Annual State-wide Ribbons of Blue launched in schools - South-West region

21/10/98

A new generation is learning to care for their local waterways, Water Resources Minister Kim Hames said today.

Dr Hames was launching the annual, State-wide Ribbons of Blue 'Snapshot' with students from St Stephen's School, Greenwood, in Perth today.

The Minister said the Snapshot day was an opportunity for students throughout Western Australia to get involved in local water issues.

This included a big number of South-West schools.

"Through Ribbons of Blue, school students and community groups learn how to measure water quality and why it is so important," Dr Hames said.

"This hands-on approach helps give them ownership of their local waterway."

More than 60 schools throughout the State spent today collecting macro invertebrates from their local waterways. The presence or absence of these animals - and the range of different types found - provide a good indicator of the water's health.

"Many of these schools regularly check their local waterways with Ribbons of Blue coordinators throughout their school year but today gives them the chance to gather information that pieces together a State-wide 'snapshot' of our waterways," Dr Hames said.

Ribbons of Blue is part of the national Waterwatch network and is coordinated in Western Australia by the Water and Rivers Commission.

Dr Hames also launched a CD-ROM on macro invertebrates developed by Murdoch University which will be used by universities, schools and community groups to help identify macro invertebrates.

Schools in the South-West region which took part in Snapshot include: Falcon Primary, Glencoe Primary, Jarrahdale Primary, Serpentine Primary, North Dandalup Primary, Coodanup Senior High, Calista Primary, Harvey Primary, Dudley Park Primary, Pinjarra Senior High, St Bernadettes Primary, Cornerstone Christian Community, Busselton Primary, St Joseph's Catholic Primary, Dunsborough Primary, Kearman College, Pemberton District High, Deanmill Primary, Manjimup Seventh Day Adventist School, East Manjimup Primary, Manjimup Primary, Quinninup Primary and MacKillop Catholic College.

The South West Regional College of TAFE will also be sampling a local waterway.

Results from the Snapshot day will be correlated into the Ribbons of Blue Yearbook later this year and published on the Ribbons of Blue web page at:

http://www.wrc.wa.gov.au/ribbons/index.html

Media contact: Caroline Lacy; (08) 9424 7455

Water and River Commission; Paula Wallace (08)9278 0300.