Ruby Wilson is a seven-year-old with a mission: she wants to save the Great Barrier Reef! Last Friday she took the opportunity to present a poster she has made of the Reef to Michael McCormack, Member of Parliament for Riverina and Assistant Minister for Defence. When the year 2 student from Parkes Public School heard there was going to be an MP at the opening of the Robert Wilson Terminal in honour of her grandfather, she decided it was time to take some action.
She started drawing the reef with her favourite animals, sea turtles. At the opening of the new terminal at the Parkes Regional Airport she spoke to Michael McCormack, who was happy to accept her poster and listen to her concern. Ruby’s mum, Angela, said her daughter definitely had inherited her drive and motivation from her grandfather. Robert Wilson was the Mayor of Parkes for 23 years and was widely known for his commitment to the community.
For children who would like to speak up for the Great Barrier Reef, there is a website of The Kids’ Party offering a new, fun way for young people to protect the magical Reef and the rest of the planet by talking to Australia’s leaders. “You might have heard there is an election coming up. You might not be old enough to vote yet, but that doesn’t mean you have to be quiet. If enough kids speak up, the grown-ups will listen!”
You can get involved by creating artwork, poems, photos, songs, videos, animations or anything to ask politicians to do more to save the Reef and our environment. The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest coral reef system stretching over 2,300 km. It is located off the coast of Queensland and can be seen from space.
By Maggi Barnard