On Friday 5 June, students from the Wynnum Manly School Education Alliance cluster participated in a World Environment day event with Moreton Bay Environmental Education Centre, Port of Brisbane Corporation and Mangrove Watch. World Environment Day, the United Nations principal vehicle for encouraging worldwide awareness and action for the environment, has grown to be a broad, global platform for public outreach.
Students boarded the research vessel Inspiration to investigate Moreton Bay. Activities included conducting a plankton trawl and viewing their findings under microscopes. As they travelled into the Port of Brisbane, Jock Mackenzie from James Cook University spoke to the students about mangroves along the river and in the bay and the challenges they face. Viewing the Port of Brisbane from the river is an amazing site.
After lunch, kindly provided by the Port of Brisbane, students visited stalls manned by Champions of the Bay including Bulimba Creek Catchment Coordination Committee, Healthy Waterways, Mangrove Watch, Queensland Wader Study Group, Griffith University, and University of Queensland. A presentation and panel discussion followed, especially complied for this special group. Panellists included:
· Professor Rod Connolly – Griffith University’s (Australian Rivers Institute);
· Jock Mackenzie – James Cook University (The Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research); and
· Craig Wilson – Environmental Manager for the Port of Brisbane Corporation.
The three panellist presentations focused on the important environments within Moreton Bay, including mangroves, coral reefs and seagrass; and the challenges faced due to changes in the catchments and in particular increased sediment (mud) during flood times.
After the presentations, students asked many interesting and challenging questions. The panellists commended the students for their knowledge and interest in the health of Moreton Bay and encouraged them to pursue careers as scientists to further their role as champions for the bay.
The schools and community are to be commended on the enthusiasm and commitment of their students.