Students design winning Christmas cards

Five Queensland primary school students will have their artwork printed on official Christmas cards after winning this year’s Education Minister’s Christmas Card Competition.

Education and Training Minister Rod Welford said this year’s competition attracted about 3200 entries from more than 100 schools across the state.

“The competition gives the students a chance to have their creative talents recognised and showcased throughout Queensland and beyond,” Mr Welford said.

“Entries this year were designed around the theme of ‘Be active this Christmas’, which fits in with 2008 being the Year of Physical Activity for Queensland schools.”

The winning designs will feature on more than 5000 Christmas cards for Premier Anna Bligh, Mr Welford, Members of Parliament, senior departmental staff and Australia Post.

The finalists won a $200 Australia Post gift voucher and a framed and personalised stamp sheet of their winning artwork and their schools won an $800 Australia Post gift voucher and a framed and personalised stamp sheet of the winning artwork.

Australia Post State Communications Manager Teresa Mullan said judging the entries was a difficult task.

“There was a fantastic array of entries that reflected the creativity and artistic flair of Queensland student artists,” she said. “Australia Post is proud to have again sponsored this competition and we will continue to do so in the years ahead.”

The winners were: Ornella Cristante (Year 1) from St Aidan’s Anglican Girls’ School, Casey Brooks (Year 6) from Greenbank State School, Kaela Armitage (Year 7) from Payne Road State School and Edie Brimblecombe and Rebecca Wakeling (Year 7) from Rainworth State School.

Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education, Training and the Arts Bonny Barry and Australia Post Commercial Manager for Queensland, Helen Brodie, presented the awards to the winners in a ceremony at Parliament House today (21 November).

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

Media contact: Marnie Stitz or Emma Clarey on 3237 1000