Friday 3 August 2007

CONCERN FOR TASMANIAN DEVIL INSPIRES YOUTHFUL CREATIVITY
The Minister for Tourism, Arts and the Environment, Paula Wriedt, today congratulated the young creators of a project board that has been named the national winner of the Westfield “Shop for Your School” – “Save the Tasmanian Devil” program.

“Every one of the 372 schools that registered to participate in this important program produced a small masterpiece conveying vital information about the plight of the Tasmanian devil,” Ms Wriedt said.

“The winning entry from primary school students at St Mary and St Mina’s Coptic Orthodox College in Bexley, New South Wales, impressed the judges with its outstanding attention to detail, with pop-up features, creative artwork and interactive information cards that encourage Australians to help the Tasmanian devil.”

In recognition of this school’s outstanding effort, Tourism Tasmania has provided a prize that will fly two teachers and two students to Tasmania for three days to meet the world’s largest carnivorous marsupial and learn more about the Tasmanian Devil Facial Tumour Disease.

They will also visit the iconic Tasmanian attractions of Port Arthur and Cadburys Chocolate Factory.
“What an amazing opportunity for this deserving school,” Ms Wriedt said.

Schools providing winning project entries in each Westfield Centre have also been awarded prize packages that include Tasmanian reading material and DVDs.

Tasmania’s partnership with Australian retail icon Westfield has provided a valuable avenue for raising awareness of the devil disease nationally.

“Through the schools that registered to participate in this program more than 124,927 students have been learning about the plight of our iconic devil,” Ms Wriedt said.

Students researched and prepared project boards on the Tasmanian devil’s situation, using educational reference material co-produced by Tourism Tasmania and the Department of Primary Industries and Water.

“The Tasmanian Devil School Project has been a great partnership between Tourism Tasmania and Westfield,” said Michelle Vanzella, General Manager Marketing at Westfield.

“It’s been a wonderful way for schools to get involved in ‘Shop for Your School’, earning extra points while learning about this important conservation issue.”

A selection of entries is currently on display at 13 Westfield shopping centres across Australia so that more Australians can learn about the devil’s plight.

Ms Wriedt said entries from participating schools expressed a deep sensitivity to the devil’s suffering and a personal interest in its wellbeing.

“It is clear from these marvellous entries that the Tasmanian devil belongs to all Australians, and all Australians have a stake in its survival.”

Westfield’s “Shop for Your School” is an established community program involving over 1,049 primary schools and over 362,000 students across Australia, participating in a range of educational projects and events for the chance to win fantastic educational technology prizes.

The headmaster of St Mary and St Mina’s Coptic Orthodox College, Mr Michael Atteya, can be contacted on 02 9599 1155.

For more information on the Tasmanian Devil Facial Tumour Disease or to make a donation to the Tasmanian Devil Appeal, visit www.tassiedevil.com.au.

Westfield’s “Shop for your School” web site is www.sfys.com.au.

For further information contact Tourism Tasmania's Communications Unit

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