Young Queenslanders highlight farm safety messages

Published Thursday, 19 September, 2019 at 05:00 PM

Minister for Education and Minister for Industrial Relations
The Honourable Grace Grace

The works of a dozen talented Queensland primary school students will once again showcase important farm safety messages in a colourful calendar that’s become a must-have household favourite.

Industrial Relations Minister Grace Grace applauded the winners of a state-wide drawing competition, with all twelve masterpieces featuring in the 2020 edition of the farm safety calendar.

“With more than 1700 entries, the judges had a hard time narrowing it down to just 12 winners,” Ms Grace said.

“I congratulate the students and teachers for their commitment to this annual competition and ultimately to farm safety – they are all winners!

“These youngsters are really talented with so many colourful drawings and heartfelt safety messages.”

Run by Workplace Health and Safety Queensland, the farm safety calendar competition highlights important messages about working and playing safely on the land. Themes this year included machinery and vehicles; quad bikes; sun safety and healthy lifestyle; powerlines; and dams and waterways.

“February has been reserved for sun safety thanks to the contribution of Ravenshoe preppie Mya Swain, while the focus in July is electrical safety through the eyes of Corey Poelitz, a Grade 5 student at Tamrookum State School.

“All 12 narratives and illustrations reinforce safety messages for young and old who enjoy farm life.

“Interestingly, our judges ventured outside the listed topics when naming the December winner – Eve Hogan.

“A Grade 6 student from Ingleside State School in Tallebudgera Valley, Eve’s piece was about bushfires.

“Like Eve, the judging panel thought it was an important hazard for rural communities and should be covered.

As well as starring in the 2020 calendar, the 12 winning artists receive a $250 voucher each, while their school gets $500.

In the next couple of months, 30,000 calendars will be distributed around the state, ensuring there’s a year-long reminder for everyone to be farm safe.

To see all the winning entries, visit www.worksafe.qld.gov.au

Media contact: Scott Chandler - 0439 578 472

Farm safety calendar competition 2019 winners (for 2020 calendar)

Winner	Grade	School and suburb	Month and theme
Campbell Newell	Grade 5	Augathella State School, Augathella	Month – January Theme – Dams and waterways
Mya Swain	Prep	Ravenshoe State School, Ravenshoe	Month – February Theme – Sun safety
Jada Stankovich	Grade 4	Mareeba State School, Mareeba	Month – March Theme – Electrical safety
Lauren Pascoe	Grade 3	Peak Crossing State School, Peak Crossing	Month – April Theme – Quad bikes
Zoe Veitch	Grade 5	St Bernard State School, Tamborine Mountain	Month – May Theme – Fenced yard
Kayden Gear	Grade 5	Norville State School, Norville	Month – June Theme – Machinery
Corey Poelitz	Grade 5	Tamrookum State School, Tamrookum	Month – July Theme – Electrical safety
Ashlyn Woodford	Grade 3	Sharon State School, Sharon	Month – August Theme – Fenced yard
Eliza Crawford	Grade 1	Kingaroy State School, Kingaroy	Month – September Theme – Quad bikes
Lincoln Hohn	Prep	St Maria Goretti Catholic Primary School, Inglewood	Month – October Theme – Machinery
Banjo Thompson	Grade 2	Pittsworth State School, Pittsworth	Month – November Theme – Dams and waterways
Eve Hogan	Grade 6	Ingleside State School, Tallebudgera Valley	Month – December Theme – Bushfires