Tuesday 17 July 2007

NEW PARTNERSHIP TO HELP DEVIL
Tasmania has stepped up efforts to raise awareness and funds for research into the Tasmanian Devil Facial Tumour Disease.

The Minister for Tourism, Arts and the Environment, Paula Wriedt, has announced a new venture between Tourism Tasmania and the Australian arm of the largest retail property group in the world, the Westfield Group.

Westfield’s ‘Shop for your School’ is an established community program involving primary schools across mainland Australia. Each dollar spent by a shopper earns their nominated school one point.

“In another innovative way Tasmania is raising the profile of the plight of the devil nationally, one of the programs featured in July is Save the Tasmanian Devil,” Ms Wriedt said.

“Students are researching and preparing project boards on the devil’s plight, and presenting creative ideas to help the cause.

“By entering the program, schools earn 2,000 points towards their ‘Shop for your School’ tally to help win technology prizes.

“Already some 350 primary schools have registered their interest.”

Ms Wriedt said the school that produces the best poster board will win a trip to Tasmania for two teachers and two students to see a real Tasmanian Devil.

“Winning entries will also be displayed at 13 Westfield shopping centres across Australia between 23 July and 5 August 2007.”

“Schools providing winning project entries will have the opportunity to win additional prize packages that include Tasmanian reading material and DVDs.”

Participating schools have been provided with educational reference material on the Tasmanian devil and the disease, co-produced by the Department of Primary Industries and Water and Tourism Tasmania.

For further information contact Tourism Tasmania's Communications Unit

(03) 6230 8244
email mediainfo@tourism.tas.gov.au