Get Ready Queensland schools competition winner announced

A Sunshine Coast school impacted by last year’s bushfires has won a visit from Get Ready Queensland Ambassador and rugby league legend Johnathan Thurston to discuss their disaster preparedness activities.

Deputy Premier and Minister responsible for the Queensland Reconstruction Authority (QRA) Mr Steven Miles said that Peregian Springs State School had won the lucky draw in the first Get Ready Queensland schools competition.

“The schools competition is a great initiative by the Get Ready Queensland program aimed at encouraging meaningful conversations about preparing for severe weather before disasters strike,” Mr Miles said.

“The response from schools across the state surpassed expectations with more than 1500 students getting involved in the competition, including entries from as far as Cooktown State School in the north and Richmond State School in the west.

“Almost 100 classes from schools across Queensland participated in the competition, learning about a range of preparedness activities including packing a Grab’n’Go bag, preparing a household emergency plan and what goes into a Pet Emergency Kit.  

“I’d like to thank all the schools and students involved in this fantastic exercise for sending in their colourful entries and photos, and a special congratulations to Peregian Springs State School,” he said.   

Get Ready Queensland Ambassador Johnathan Thurston said he was looking forward to visiting Peregian Springs State School, seeing the students’ completed activities and finding out what they had learned during the competition.

“I’m really passionate about disaster preparation and I can’t wait to find out how the students are getting ready,” Mr Thurston said.

“We know disasters can develop quickly and often people don’t have much time before they need to act.

“The Peregian Springs students and their families experienced first-hand last year the impact natural disasters can have when their school was closed due to the threat of fast-moving bushfires.

“If these students have been able to learn something from this competition, and share that knowledge with their families, then we will all be better off next time a disaster strikes.

“I’ve spoken to students from all over Queensland and while the disasters they face may be different, the importance of being prepared is the same.

“The Get Ready Queensland program encourages all Queenslanders to take steps now to protect their loved ones in the case of an emergency,” he said.

For more information on how you can prepare for a disaster, please visit getready.qld.gov.au

ENDS

Media contact: Katharine Wright - 0428 957 903