Farm safety calendar competition winners from Wide Bay congratulated

Three kids from the Wide Bay-Burnett region are among twelve Queensland kids to be selected as winners of the 2023 Farm safety calendar competition.

Artwork by Isabella Gatti from Kolan South State School, Blayke Myles from Monto State School and Jaxton Cox from Elliott Heads State School have been chosen for the January, April and August pages of the calendar respectively.

Queenslanders can order the 2023 Farm safety calendar for free from the Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ) website.

Industrial Relations Minister Grace Grace said WSHQ was inundated with 1,500 entries from budding young artists this year.

“The Farm safety calendar competition is a great way to get kids from all over Queensland thinking about safety at home and in their classrooms,” Ms Grace said.

“It gives primary school students the opportunity to help spread the word about how to stay safe on farms and rural properties, protecting our great lifestyle.

“Jobs in agriculture are great jobs that provide better services to Queenslanders, and we want to make sure the message is out there: be safe on farms.

“The standard of artwork over the years has been fantastic, and the latest edition of the calendar is no exception.

“The competition is a lot of fun, but the safety messages are serious. The agriculture industry employs around three per cent of Queensland workers but accounts for more than 30 per cent of workplace deaths.

“The 2023 calendar includes creative and colourful illustrations about electrical safety, animal safety, tractor and machinery safety, quad bike safety, water safety and general health and wellbeing.

“The 12 winners will each receive a $250 Visa gift voucher, plus another $500 for their school, with their artwork and safety messages featuring in the calendar.”

30,000 free copies of the 2023 Farm safety calendar will be available for Queenslanders in October.

Kolan South State School Principal, Jeff Searle, said the school community was proud of Year 6 student Isabella Gatti for winning the competition.

“Our students have been entering this competition for a number of years, so it is fantastic that Isabella’s entry has been selected for the 2023 calendar,” Mr Searle said.

“It is also a positive reminder for our students that ‘having a go’ can bring opportunity and success. The prize money is certainly a bonus, and will help provide some learning resources for our classrooms.”

Monto State School Year 6 student Blayke Myles’ artwork is a reminder for children to stay safe while riding quadbikes.

“I created this design because I live to ride my motorbike but I've been made to always wear a helmet or stay home and I want to make sure my friends and others stay safe,” Blayke said.

Elliott Heads State School Acting Principal, David Theobald, said the school’s prizemoney from Year 3 student Jaxton Cox’s winning entry would go towards maintaining and expanding the school farm.

“The students get a lot of joy with harvesting and growing produce in our garden,” Mr Theobald said.

“This would help with planting a variety of different vegetables for students to enjoy.”

You can order your free 2023 Farm safety calendar here and check out the winning artwork for each month here.

Winners of the 2023 Farm safety calendar competition:

ENDS

Media contact:

Minister Grace: Bryce Heaton 0434 575 237

Office of Industrial Relations: 0478 332 200