Fraser Island Photo Competition launched on World Environment Day

The Palaszczuk Government is urging keen photographers to enter the Snap Up Some Paradise photo competition to celebrate 25 years since the beautiful Fraser Island (K’gari) was listed as a World Heritage Area.

While marking World Environment Day today, Minister for Environment Leeanne Enoch invited residents and visitors to enter their images in one of three categories that showcased the island’s natural beauty and international significance.

“This competition is a wonderful opportunity to promote and celebrate K’gari’s unique World Heritage values,” Ms Enoch said.

“We are celebrating the listing and the island’s importance to future generations with the Traditional Owners, the Butchulla people, who know this island as K’gari, meaning ‘paradise’.

“K’gari is uniquely characterised by long stretches of sandy beach, strikingly coloured sand cliffs, spectacular sandblows, and subtropical rainforests sprouting from sand.

“The island’s sand dunes are some of the oldest in the world, and over half of the world’s perched fresh water lakes are found there.

“It’s these features that were recognised as internationally significant, and warranted the island’s World Heritage listing in 1992,” Ms Enoch said.

Conway Burns, a Butchulla spokesperson and talented artist, said he was excited by the opportunity to share the international significance of K’gari with current and future generations.

“K’gari is a female white spirit sent from sky country to help create the lands and is a spiritual place for my people – a place of plenty. Everyone should know how special she is,” Mr Burns said.

The ‘Snap Up Some Paradise’ competition has three categories – Landscapes, Sand & Water and Flora & Fauna. Winners will have the opportunity to become published photographers, with their work showcased in the Fraser Island 2019 Calendar, and in the December 2018 Issue of Wildlife Australia Magazine.

The competition will run until August 5. For more information, visit www.ehp.qld.gov.au.

Media contact: 0437 859 987