Our activities

January 2012: What will the Queensland Coast look like in the future?

Green Cross Australia asked the public to help them answer this question, by taking part in ‘Witness King Tides'. They called on amateur and professional photographers to take photos of the Queensland coastline during the January king tide forming  a permanent photographic record of Queensland coastal sites in 2012.

Its important to know that king tides are not part of climate change, they are natural and predictable, occurring twice yearly when there is alignment of the gravitational pull between sun and moon.

However it is a window into what our coastline might look like and what infrastructure may be affected if sea levels continue to rise. It’s a fair question as 50% of the Australian coast line is made up of sand and mud, making it especially prone to change: plus 85% of Australia’s population live within an hour’s drive to the beach.

To witness the king tides QYEC members headed to their nearest coastline or river system to take some snaps. Alicia headed to the Sunshine coast, where the king tides occurred on Monday 23rd January at 8:11am. Megan and Dan hit the Gold Coast and James took some photos of the Brisbane River.  It was truly impressive to see how high the ‘normal’ tide line might be in the future.

Check out Witness King Tide’s website to view all the photos and find out more.

Yeccie amazed to find water coming up through storm water drains at Budds Beach on the Goald Coast during the King Tide.

Alicia ankle deep in water trying to get onto the beach at  the Sunshine Coast's Mudjimba beach at King Tide.

November 2011: Gold Coast Full Council Meeting and Just ONE Roundtable

27 - 29 November 2011 was a productive and exciting three days for the council with the last Full Council Meeting of 2011 held in Currumbin Valley on the Gold Coast.

The weekend was go, go, go! QYEC members kicked off the meeting with some hands on work, planting over 100 native trees along the riparian zone of adjacant to the Currumbin Creek at Currumbin Eco Village. After the mornings hard work and a quick bite to eat at the local organic cafe, QYEC members were refreshed and on the road again heading to Springbrook National Park.

   

Chris and Eve getting their hands dirty in the riparian zone of Currumbin Creek.

Underneath the welcoming shade in the park, members enjoyed a tour guided by Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) rangers. It was a very valuable experience: QYEC members learnt about the demands of maintaining and managing national parks as well as the cultural history associated with the park and its traditional owners. QYEC members would like to thank QPWS Rangers, Mark, Clinton and Belinda, for sharing their knowledge and time with the council.

On day two of the QYEC Full Council Meeting, members hosted a Just ONE Roundtable at Varsity College attended by 60+ students from 11 secondary schools across the Gold Coast.  All students participated in Enviro-tones, Eco-tude and Growing a Project Tree.  There was great involvement and input from all students in years eight through to twelve.  All of the students had different experiences to share. It was wonderful to see so many youth getting involved and inspiring each other to start an environment group or new environment project in their schools. It was a very successful day with the Just ONE toolkit presented to each school, Yeccie making a guest appearance and mentor teachers in attendance agreeing to form a sustainability network under the leadership of Steve Rowell, Principal of Jacobs Well Environmental Education Centre.

QYEC members, Dan, Laura M and Calum facilitating 'red' hat or emotions thinking about school environmental action in the Enviro'tones session of the Gold Coast Just ONE roundtable.

QYEC members, Madi and Sophie, helping students plan their school's new environmental projects in the 'growing a project tree' session of the Gold Coast Just ONE Roundtable.

Following the roundtable, QYEC members returned to the Currumbin Valley and progressed policy work including a youth views advice paper on Coal Seam Gas in Queensland.

The final morning was spent getting feet wet while undertaking water quality testing at two sites in Currumbin Creek. Thanks to Natura Education, QYEC members had a lot of fun learning about macro-invertebrates. Cacthing bugs may sound like just a bit of fun but studying the creatures that live in freshwater gives an accurate indication of how "healthy" the water is. With some additional sampling and analysis QYEC members were able to determine the quality of the water and make comparisons between the two sites along the creek.

   

QYEC members investigating which marco-invertebrates can be found in Currumbin Creek.

QYEC members then transported canoes to Currumbin Creek estury with staff from Tallebudgera Outdoor Education Centre.  After a quick paddle, swim and BBQ feast. Members discussed the pro and cons of beach erosion contol measures, national park entrance fees and reviewed and reflected upon the learnings and successes in 2011.

October 2011: Toowoomba Just ONE Roadtrip

On 6 and 7 October 2011, QYEC members Alicia, Sophie, Madi and Sam headed to Toowoomba to run Just ONE workshops with two secondary schools.

QYEC members joined Condamine Alliance's Alex Kennedy at Toowoomba State High School Wilsonton Campus.  Wilsonton Campus asked QYEC to workshop how to set up an environment club with interested students.   The school has committed to having the captain of the newly formed club become part of the school’s student executive.  QYEC members facilitated Eco’tones, Eco’tude and Growing a Project Tree with the students.  By the end of the two hour session, students had come up with a name for their club, ‘Nature Blitz’, and decided to start tackling the litter problem in their school with a humourous approach. Students also planned an environmental themed concert for 2012 because the school music program is important in their community.  Students will investigate applying for a Condamine Crusader grant to extend and enhance a small nature corridor on their campus, originally created almost 10 years ago.

Sam running the Eco’tude workshop with Toowoomba State High School's environment club, 'Nature Blitz'.

QYEC also visited The Glennie School.  The workshop helped students plan the steps needed to implement their Condamin Crusader grant project for establishing composting and worm farming in the middle school.  By the end of the workshop, not only had the Glennie girls planned their project, but they were inspired to establish an environmental club in their school,  naming it ‘Glenn-E.Co’.

Alicia and Madi Growing a Project Tree with The Glennie School’s environment club, 'Glenn-E.Co'.

As QYEC members build networks with secondary schools such as The Glennie School and Toowoomba State High School, it will be interesting to see which plans are implemented and how they go.  Both schools were inspired by having proactive and informed young people help them with their environmental actions.  QYEC members were inspired to see such enthusiasm from the students!

October 2011: 10,000 Teens Queensland Launch

On 25 October 2011 Laura attended the 10,000 Teens launch at the Stuartholme School in Toowong.  10,000 Teens aims to add ten thousand teenage girls to Natalie Isaac's One Million Women campaign to connect with each other and take daily individual action to cut one tonne of pollution annually.

The venue was packed with teenage girls from many south-east Queensland secondary schools. It was amazing to hear the cheers that rang out when each school's name was announced.  It really showed that this campaign mattered to the girls - it wasn't just another box ticked and another school event attended, but a real opportunity to take a positive step.  The speakers included the former Minister for Environment and Resource Management, Kate Jones (who is the local state member of parliament for the area) and the One Million Women founder Natalie Isaacs.  Additionally some of the 10,000 Teens ambassadors explained their reasons for joining the campaign and their personal actions to cut carbon pollution.

It was truly inspiring to see how one person had empowered over fifty thousand women to take significant action to cut pollution, and even more inspiring to see a number of secondary school girls take to the stage, completely determined to take action and spread the word. It is definitely worth getting involved with the One Million Women and 10,000 Teens campaigns.  To sign up, go the the following website: http://www.1millionwomen.com.au/ or follow the links from the QYEC home page.

 

September 2011: Landcare Conference

From 20 – 23 September 2011 QYEC members Sophie, Matt and Chris attended and presented at the Queensland Landcare Conference in Ayr. The conference was hosted by the Lower Burdekin Landcare Association and the theme was ‘Generations of Guardians.’ The program included a number of interesting key note addresses and workshop sessions. Dr John Williams’ (from Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists) keynote address on food security and sustainability was a highlight. Moreover, Julian Moore’s (SMS Online) presentation on obtaining sponsorship and Brett de Hayr’s closing address on how to use social media to mobilise the next generation of Landcarers were both highly relevant to QYEC’s work. 

On day one Matt and Chris delivered the results of a quiz they undertook to inform their research for the presentation 'Linking Youth with Landcare'. The second day of the conference involved field trips to a range of locations in the Burdekin; Chris attended the Northern Exposure Tour which included visits to the Cromarty wetlands, the Australian Institute of Marine Science’s Cape Ferguson facility and Australia’s latest exotic fruit plantation. Meanwhile, Sophie and Matt ran Green or Greedy at the Junior Landcare Conference, attended by eighty 6-15 year olds.

Matt playing Green or Greedy with three Junior Landcarers.

Two Junior Landcarers filling in the crossword from their Green or Greedy Prize: Captain Climatesmart Activity Books.

Not only did Sophie, Matt and Chris learn a lot from all the fantastic speakers, but they hope they were able to share knowledge and build understanding through their presentation and youth engagement activity.

 

August 2011: People's Day - Royal Queensland Show

An exciting day was spent on People’s Day, 17 August 2011, where QYEC members could be found getting their hands dirty helping young ekka patrons make hundreds of paper potters to grow herbs and vegetables in their garden at home! QYEC was at the Department of Environment and Resource Management, Q2 Coasts and Country 'In Your Back Yard' themed stall;  it was definitely favoured by students who liked getting their hands dirty.      

     

James, Dan and Sophie demonstrating paper potter construction to pavilion visitors.

August 2011: Kids Teaching Kids Conference

‘The future of our environment, and ultimately our ability to sustain this planet, has less to fear from miners, loggers, chemical manufacturers and the like, than from apathy and lack of responsibility from you and I; we cannot afford to continually point the finger and cry, look at what they are doing! The only things we have complete control over are our own actions.’ - Richard Wood (Kids Teaching Kids) 

On 11 and 12 August 2011, the Queensland Youth Environment Council was again involved in the Kids Teaching Kids (KTK) Conference, held on the Sunshine Coast.   QYEC members set off early on the 11th to assist the KTK organisers open the event.

This year’s conference had the theme of everyday environmental superheros!

 

The everyday environmental superheros from the attending schools.

In the morning QYEC member, Eve, made a star appearance on the expert panel along with Di Aylward (the Earth Smart Science Coordinator) and comedian Harley Breen with Arron Wood (founder of Kids Teaching Kids) facilitating the session.

Eve with Di Aylward during the expert panel session.

The students' presentations to their peers were the highlight of the second part of the day and it was encouraging and inspiring to assist and participate. 

The KTK philosophy is a school-based education model that inspires young people to learn and care for their immediate environment. The school environment groups select local issues as the topic for their projects, allowing students to take responsibility for their own learning.

Weeds to Wonderland, Be Fantastic – Get Rid of Plastic, Turtle Rescue, Koala Crusaders and Working Today to Ensure a Beautiful Tomorrow, were some of the topics presented by the participating schools.

Day one was not over yet! That night QYEC's mascot, Yeccie, made an appearance at the Gala Dinner. QYEC members Sophie, Eve and Alicia had an opportunity to inform student delegates about QYEC and 'superhero' Yeccie when interviewed by Arron Wood.

  

Sophie, Eve and Alicia on stage during the Gala Dinner.

The next day we woke early to amazing winter weather. This second day was earmarked as Environmental Projects Day, where QYEC members participated in the field taking students to do something hands on at the Mooloolah River revegetation site.  It provided a rich riparian environment to facilitate two sessions entitled ‘River Art and Poetry’.  These were designed to encourage students to gain a greater awareness of ecosystem services.

The students were given a picture frame and their task was to frame a piece of the environment surrounding them. This allowed them to find things that they otherwise may have missed and it was designed to create greater awareness.

Eve and Alicia running a River Art workshop.

In the poetry session each student was given a strip of paper to write a sentence on the environment around them. This could be descriptive of what they observed and how it made them feel. A whimsical poem was constructed after the group put the sentences of each student in order. The 'clap-o-meter' worked a treat to decide the order of sentences. We hope the students now think creative writing isn’t all that bad!

Sophie and Lucy running a poety workshop.  Here's one of the poems: 

The Creek

As I stand among tall trees.

I look into the creek and see natives and weeds.

There are different shades of green.

Peaceful and still sustaining life with its shallow murky water;

The creek is very long and looks dark inside.

The dams of wood make the water still.

The silence of the creek is beautiful.

It was an action packed two days. We were energised by watching the young environmental superheros give us hope for a brighter future.

July 2011: World Environmental Education Congress

From 20 to 22 July 2011 QYEC members, Jack, James, Alicia, Eve and Sophie attended and chaired sessions at the World Environmental Education Congress (WEEC) at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. The WEEC movement arose out of a desire to create a forum for dialogue and synergy among educators in all sectors, including schools and universities, and from national, regional and international organisations, associations and networks about environment education.

The program, under the broad theme of Explore, Experience, Educate, offered participants an opportunity to learn, encounter, share and debate new ways of thinking, feeling and doing, and to explore new trends in research and practice in environmental education.

The program included plenary sessions, speakers and roundtable discussions in addition to a display exhibition and a gala dinner.  QYEC members Eve and James were both fantastic in their roles as session chairs. The themes of the congress were:

  • Pedagogies for the planet
  • Weaving environmental wisdom
  • Environmental education research and policy in action
  • Small footprints
  • Living ‘cool’ for a sustainable world
  • Collaborating for change
  • The future is in our hands
  • Learning together out there
  • Showcasing environmental education in Australia and the Asia-Pacific.

June 2011: Townsville Full Council Meeting and Just ONE Roundtable

On Thursday 23 June 2011 QYEC members journeyed north to the tropical city of Townsville for the June Full Council Meeting. The meeting was based at Paluma Environmental Education Centre and involved learning about the ecosystems of the wet tropics region, connecting with the local community in Paluma as well as with school students in Townsville, progressing work on current policy submissions and exploring ideas for projects in the coming year. It also provided members from other parts of Queensland the opportunity to experience the northern tropics region and gain a deeper understanding of the wide variety of natural systems in Queensland and the challenges they face.

On Friday members took part in a schools roundtable event discussing the environmental challenges of the region with Townsville students and offering information and inspiration about the changes they can make in their lives and schools to play a part in overcoming these challenges.

Yeccie with Thuringowa State High School students at the Townsville Secondary Students Roundtable.

Saturday saw members working on the environmental education policy submission involving stories, sticky dots for voting on ideas and much discussion. As a result the policy was progressed into the next stage of writing with positive energy and many great ideas. In the afternoon members sat for the 2011 Annual General Meeting and a new executive was elected offering their commitment and enthusiasm in leading the council throughout the coming year.  Lastly, the Saturday also included some hands on work helping out at the quarry revegetation site at Paluma.

  

Eve, Alicia, Calum, Dan, Sam and Laura all working on the environmental education policy submission.

 

Calum and Laura helping out with mulching for weed control and moisture retention in the quarry revegetation site at Paluma.

The time on Sunday was split between making a creative new digivid about the importance of bio-diversity and an exploration of members’ ‘$6 million’ ideas. The former had members exploring the nearby rainforest with camera and tripod shooting scenes for the latest Yeccie video, while the latter resulted in the merging of different suggestions for what members would do with $6 million to spread the message about sustainability. 

Megan and James filming the next Digivid on biodiversity.

Overall, this meeting provided inspiration and enjoyment for all and again provided the valuable opportunity to work face to face and spend time in the company of like minded students, teachers and community memebrs.

June 2011: World Environment Day Pathways to Sustainability Expo

All QYEC members were enthusiastic to do something constructive to celebrate World Environment Day this year.

Members from Brisbane and the Darling Downs met early to head off to the University of Southern Queensland Toowoomba Campus to be part of the Pathways to Sustainability Expo organised by local community group HOPE (Households Options to Protect the Environment).

Once we had set up the QYEC stall and rolled out Green or Greedy we were able to pull a crowd:  Green or Greedy and the eco prizes were a real hit.

We then moved on to the second part of the program where we joined Alex Kennedy from the Condamine Alliance to host a Youth Sustainability Roundtable with schools that had received grants from the Condamine Alliance and interested secondary students from the Darling Downs area. 

After the welcome to country and introduction we broke up into small groups to do an ecotones review of the various schools environment group/project. This was a great way to start and this session really helped to break the ice as the students discussed their various projects.

We then broke into two groups, one to do Ecotude (eco attitude!) with Sam. This interactive website offers students a great deal of insight into their schools' energy and resource use. Sam and James did a great job and this was our first workshop with multiple schools at once.

Sam presenting 'Eco-tude': a school environmental auditing tool

Laura and Alicia ran the ‘Growing a project tree’ with the other half of the group. This was a great interactive tool for exploring what environmental projects students are doing, what’s working and where they can move forward. 

Laura assisting students develop a project tree as a project management tool

The afternoon consisted of other activities including Paper Potters, Green or Greedy and a trial run of the Landcare Quiz. Before the conclusion of the day we pre-launched the ‘Yeccie’ digivids which resulted in laughs all round.

To conclude the round table event each school group was invited to showcase their school projects to the others. We also presented them with the ‘Just One’ folder. Each group of students was inspiring and it is always a privilege to be part of their environmental journey.

June 2011: Hillbrook Anglican School Sustainably Day Environmental Expo

It was a very early morning for the team of Yeccies who headed off to the annual Hillbrook Anglican School Sustainability Fair on 23 May 2011, but we were all very eager for what turned out to be a fantastic day! 

To kick off the morning, a cup of coffee and freshly baked cake was much needed and soon we were all set up for our first game of Green or Greedy and there was energy and excitement all around! The game was a big hit and we had lots of children, teens, dads and teachers alike lining up to play for the major prize: a worm farm. With the first round of G or G over, we were all let free to roam around the fair.

With so much to see and do, it's no wonder the day went by so fast! But everyone had an awesome time, even if we were a bit exhausted by the end of the day. It was a very successful day that truly reflected this year’s theme "Community Solutions to a Global Problem".

   

Alicia and James playing Green or Greedy with Hillbrook Anglican School students.

April 2011: Re-fashion Parade

On 3 April 2011 QYEC members contributed to the celebration of National Youth Week 2011 by hosting a Re-fashion parade organised by QYEC member Alicia. In conjunction with the Young Designer Markets and South Bank Corporation, QYEC enjoyed a fantastic day. This years Youth Week slogan ‘Own It’ was the theme.  The Re-fashion event was designed to create environmental awareness. The passing public were encouraged to think about what they own, what they consume, where their products come from and most importantly where their waste ends up.   The parade showcased clothing, jewellery and accessories made from recycled, reclaimed and re-purposed or organic materials. The creations were provided by Young Designers Market stall holders and QYEC members.  

It was set to be a fantastic day as the sun rose in the morning and the rain stayed away until we had packed up. Thanks to Alicia, Madi, Sophie, Jack and, James the two shows we presented ran flawlessly.   Special guest Emma Francis the Youth Week Young Member for Queensland introduced the event and it was a delight to meet her and hear her story about how she is contributing to the wellbeing of young people.  Models Billi, Sam, Simone and Anna from Candiali modelling and etiquette were extremely professional and were inspired by the re-fashioned designs they showcased. Our own Sarah and Jack blew us all away by their amazing appearance on the catwalk.

The parade was made complete with the professional assistance of South Bank Corporation and Blue Sky, who provided the marquees, sound system, red carpet, chairs, topiary trees and bollards!

James not only came bejewelled in his homemade re-fashioned toothbrush bracelet and bottle top necklace he also came up with some entertaining one liners:

“That piece just oozes goodness. Much better than oozing oil!”

On a more serious note we hope seeds were planted to change the world one dress at a time.

The consumer dollar is our power and we can make a world of difference. Buying local, choosing natural fabrics and reusing vintage fashion can be some of the best choices we can make for the environment.  We trust that people walked away and questioned their fashion. Hopefully in the future they will know where their clothes come from, where they are made and what they are made of.  

Being aware of our wasteful footprint on the earth means we recognise the problem, own the solution and own our future.

Ali in event planner mode – walky talky and all

Sophie and Madi putting up the Youth Week ‘Own It’ Posters

James with Emma Francis (Queensland Young Member for Youth Week)

Jack strutting his stuff with an organic cotton T-shirt

Sarah (ex-QYEC member, second from right) with Candiali Models displaying accessories created from recycled and re-purposed materials

March 2011: Earth Hour BBQ and One World One Week Challenge

All QYEC members past and present were invited to attend and partake in the One World One Week Challenge culminating with an Earth Hour BBQ in Roma Street Parklands on Saturday the 26th of March 2011.

Thanks to those of you who participated in the One World One Week Challenge and to those who attended the Earth Hour Picnic last Saturday night. A good time was had by all.  We also saw the first public appearance of the Yeccie Monster.

The actions that we undertook did make a meaningful difference.  Over the course of the week we all saved 8.9 gha in total, which equates to a reduction of 17.4 tonnes of carbon over a year.  This basically is the equivalent footprint of 4 people living sustainably.  As a group, we reduced our average consumption from 2.5 planets per person to 1.6, a saving of almost a whole planet.  What this challenge shows is that together we can make a difference, but we still have a long way to go.

 

The Yeccie monster posing for his first ever photo shoot

Alicia meeting the Yeccie Monster

March 2011: QYEC West of the Divide (Trip to the Darling Downs)

On  the 24th and 25th of March 2011 members of QYEC (Alicia, Laura M and Matt) along with the invaluable assistance and guidance from Secretariat staff Ali and Lucy visited three schools West of the Great Divide (yes there is such a place).   Thursday was spent at both ‘St Ursula’s College’ and ‘Toowoomba Grammar School’ in Toowoomba and Friday at ‘Our Lady of the Southern Cross College’ in Dalby.

At all three schools Alicia and Matt presented the QYEC power point presentation, including  to 1000 staff and students at Toowoomba Grammar and to 800 at ‘Our Lady of the Southern Cross College’.  At both ‘St Ursula’s’ and ‘OLSCC’ some additional activities were undertaken with both schools’ Environment Clubs.  The QYEC team gave both groups some guidance to move forward into the future, including visioning activities and running through Eco’tude (an Ecological footprint calculator) with the St Ursula’s group.

Highlights from OLSCC were the official opening of the ‘OLSCC Vegie Gardens’ and playing ‘Green or Greedy’ with first the grade 6 and 7’s and then the grade 8’s and 9’s.  It was amazing to see how important the environment group and their activities were to the school and how much support was provided from the school especially from the principal Mr John Hegarty.  The amazement didn’t stop there as we also got to witness first hand how involved and dedicated our own Laura M is to her school and environment, with almost all of the Environment Club’s (The EcoWarriors’) initiatives, activities, media attendance at the vegie garden launch and even our trip to the school being credited to Laura M.

All in all it was a great couple of days and very inspiring to see the dedication by the students we interacted with in their willingness and sense of responsibility to doing their bit for the future of the environment.

  

Laura M introducing the QYEC presentation

Matt and Alicia presenting the QYEC PowerPoint presentation

Ali with Matt, Laura M and OLSCC students opening the vegie garden

Ali, Matt and Laura M with St Ursula's College, Toowoomba students

February 2011: Griffith and UQ Market Day

QYEC members attended the University of Queensland O Week market day on 23 February 2011 and Griffith Market Day on 3 March 2011 to create awareness about environmental issues and to take a mini survey of young people’s attitudes towards the environment.

 

Alicia questioning a Griffith University student about her attitudes towards the environment.

Maddy raising awareness about food miles and helping a Griffith University student start her own herb garden with a biodegradable newspaper pot.

Sarah being shown a solar powered mobile phone by a University of Queensland Student.

February 2011: Tree Planting in Toohey Forest

On Friday 18 February 2011, QYEC members worked with Toohey Forest Environmental Education Centre staff planting Eel Grass, Dianella, Lomandra Longifolia and Cheese Trees within Ring Road Wetland of Toohey Forest.

 

Matt planting Eel grass in the Ring Road Wetlands.

 

Jack planting a Cheese Tree in Toohey Forest.

   

Laura watering a Lomandra Longifolia on the bank of the Ring Road Wetland Lake.

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Last updated 24 February 2012