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The newly-formed Manning River Turtle Group recently held a colouring competition for local childcare centres and primary schools, and a turtle-themed art competition for students at Wingham High School.
The competition was devised to raise awareness about the endangered Manning River Helmeted Turtle (Purvis’ Turtle), and was a lead-in to the group’s Wingham Winter Solstice Lantern Walk, held on Friday, June 23 as part of the Wingham Activations Weekend Blitz, where winners were announced.
The art competition was judged by wildlife artist and zoological illustrator Peter Schouten AM, and the colouring competition by Wingham Chamber of Commerce president Liz Jarvis, members of the Manning River Turtle Conservation Group, and Elise Rourke, a year nine student at St Clare’s High School who drew the picture used for the colouring competition entries.
All schools were happy to have their students enter the competition, with some devising special lessons on the Manning River Helmeted Turtle to accompany the colouring in.
Wingham High School’s art teacher, Rachel Bloomfield offered the services of herself and her students to display all of the entries in the high school’s MPC (school hall).
Winners of each section were awarded a cash prize, funded by the Wingham Chamber of Commerce and the Future Towns Program funding given to the Chamber for the Place Making project.
The winners of the colouring in competition were:
- Preschool: Eleanor Healy, Cuddlepie Early Childhood Learning Centre.
- K-2: Lucy Austin, Wingham Brush Public School.
- Years 3-4: Imogen Buddle, Wingham Public School:
- Years 5-6 Dylan Kennett, Wingham Public School.
The Wingham High School art competition places were:
- First: Olivia Payne
- Second: Caitlin McGilvray
- Third: Kellie Clark.
The Manning River Turtle Conservation Group wish to thank the Wingham Chamber of Commerce and JOC Consulting, all of the primary schools in Wingham and Tinonee Public School, Cuddlepie Early Childhood Learning Centre, Wingham and District Preschool, Rachel Bloomfield and Peter Schouten for their support to the competition.
In addition, Peter Schouten generously donated the use of his illustration of the turtle to the Manning River Turtle Conservation Group, for which they are extremely grateful.