STUDENT ARTISTS MAKE THEIR MARK ON CHRISTMAS CARDS

Five Queensland primary school students will be the centre of attention of their classmates today, after having their artworks selected for official Christmas cards.

The students are the winners of this year’s Education Minister’s Christmas Card competition, which attracted more than 3800 entries from some 100 schools across Queensland.

Congratulating the winning students in a ceremony at Parliament House today, Education and Training Minister, Rod Welford, said the winning designs were clever and creative.

“These are all very talented young children,” Mr Welford said.

“They have taken this year’s theme of ‘Caring for our Earth this Christmas’ and come up with some great concepts.

“The designs highlight important environmental issues, such as saving water, in a range of decorative Christmas situations.

“The artworks will feature on more than 5,000 official Christmas cards to be sent out by the Premier, myself and the sponsor of the competition, Australia Post.

Mr Welford said the five winners were:

• Cody Sinclair, The Willows State School (Year 6)
• Dale Pepper-Timmins, Regents Park State School (Year 6)
• Judah Pilcher, McDowall State School (Year 1)
• Kalani Senanayake, Middle Park State School (Year 4)
• Ashley Grimshaw, Southern Cross Catholic College (Year 6)

Australia Post State Communications Manager in Queensland, Rebecca Ho, said Australia Post was delighted to be involved in the Christmas Card Competition for the third year.

The five students, from Years 1 to 6, each won a $200 Australia Post gift voucher and a framed collectors’ stamp sheet of their artwork. Their schools won an $800 Australia Post gift voucher and a framed collectors’ stamp sheet of their student’s winning artwork.

The competition opened in August 2006 to all Queensland school students. As well as the five winners, ten entries also received a high commendation and a certificate of recognition.

Winning designs can be viewed at www.education.qld.gov.au/community/events/christmas

Media contact: Greg Milne or Marnie Stitz on 32371000