Youngsters deliver farm safety messages through drawing competition

Published Tuesday, 12 September, 2017 at 09:45 AM

Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations, Minister for Racing and Minister for Multicultural Affairs
The Honourable Grace Grace

Twelve primary school students from regional Queensland have had their winning entries in a drawing competition printed in the 2018 Farm Safety Calendar.

At a special assembly at Torbanlea State School today, Industrial Relations Minister Grace Grace said the Queensland Government’s farm safety calendar competition was again very popular.

“We had over 700 entries from across the state this year and I’d like to thank all those kids and their helpful teachers for entering but unfortunately, there can only be as many winners as there are months in the year,” Ms Grace said.

“Once the calendar is published with each of those 12 winning entries in it, we’ll give away thousands of them all over the state to be hung up in homes as a reminder to stay safe all year round.

“So this is not just a colouring-in competition – it’s an important way to get people thinking about safety on rural properties.

“Tragically around 20 children are killed on farms in Australia every year, with many more hospitalised.

“And for the most part, these are preventable deaths, if a few safety basics are followed.

“Well done to Year 5 student India Ryan from Torbanlea State School for her masterpiece which highlighted the benefits of eating healthy and getting lots of sleep.”

India’s work features as December in the 2018 calendar, and she and the other 11 successful artists receive a $250 voucher, and their school a $500 voucher.

“Sadly a lot of injuries happen on farms, so the calendar competition is a way to get our future farmers thinking about safety nice and early,” Ms Grace said.

2018 farm safety calendar competition winners 

Name

Grade

School

Rachel Sheldrick

1

Faith Christian School of Distance Education, Kingston

Skylah Carlyon

2

Calliope State School

Rhiannon Ryan

4

Cooyar State School

Alex Neaton

3

Eton State School

Sean Cordie

3

Granville State School

Nicole Elliott

1

St John’s Lutheran School, Kingaroy

Jedd Giddy

3

St Francis School, Ayr

Gabrielle Duncombe

5

Cooyar State School

Felicity Graham

1

Malanda State School

Adam Brandis

5

Columba Catholic College, St Mary’s Campus, Charters Towers

Riley Mahoney

3

Taranganba State School Special Education Program

India Ryan

5

Torbanlea State School

 As part of the competition entry conditions, regional primary school students were encouraged to talk about and illustrate common safety hazards:

 Quad bikes, motorbikes and machinery

  • Animal handling
  • Sun safety and healthy lifestyle
  • Electrical safety
  • Safety around dams
  • Kids on farms

 More information on the farm safety calendar competition is available at worksafe.qld.gov.au

Media contact: Martin Philip 0427 919 548