Goodstart Early Learning Mount Helen celebrates Central Highlands Water education win

Goodstart Early Learning Mount Helen were the winners of the 2024 Central Highlands Water education competition, celebrating with a special visit to the Ballarat Wildlife Park last week.

The early learning service won the competition at the annual Begonia Festival where entrants painted native animals interacting with water, local news source Ballarat Times reports.

There were 24 entries from early learning centres, kindergartens, primary schools, secondary schools and community groups from across the region which were displayed in an open-air art gallery at the festival.

Goodstart Early Learning Mount Helen’s picture of a cassowary won the people’s choice and early learning or kindergarten categories.

The children, centre representative Callan Slater said, were thrilled to have won, adding “they can learn from such a young age the importance of water to the environment and understand that we all have a part to play in looking after it.”

The children gratefully received their prizes at the Ballarat Wildlife Park where they took part in an educational session and met two cassowaries.

“We were excited to support the Central Highlands Water education competition this year and very impressed by all the entries,” Ballarat Wildlife Park marketing manager Darren Collinson said.

“This is a great way to encourage everyone to think about the importance of water in the environment and how all life depends upon this precious resource.”

“We all need to do our part to protect not only native wildlife, but also the environment they live in.”

To read the original coverage of this story please see here.