Gordonvale Students Visit Green Island

On February 24th 2012, students from Gordonvale State School and Gordonvale High School visited Green Island, part of the Great Barrier Reef along Australia’s Far North Queensland coastline.

During their visit, the 34 students checked out the local marine life during a glass bottom boat ride, had a visit to the Department of Fisheries Research Station and then conducted the first Tangaroa Blue clean up on Green Island.

From 500m around the island, students and teachers collected 995 pieces of marine debris including 235 bits of foam, 212 bits of hard plastic, 168 bits of foam from weather balloons, 72 straws and cutlery, 52 foam food packaging and 20 bits of broken glass. The debris weighed 37.1kg, was collected from 1km of beach in 1.25hrs!

Great effort by the students and we are looking forward to reading their reports from the day!

Gordonvale State School hosts the Excelsior Program

On March 2nd, 2011 Gordonvale State School hosted a workshop for students from 4 local schools in their Excelsior Program. The theme of the workshop was “sew a seed and grow a tree”.

During the workshop, Heidi Taylor from Tangaroa Blue presented information about marine debris and its impacts, along with practical ways that we can all make a difference to our marine and coastal environment. Photo left: Lucy Peterson from Gordonvale State School and Heidi Taylor help collect debris along O’Leary’s Creek.

Students then assisted in a clean up along O’Leary’s Creek which runs along the back of the school. In just 45mins, students cleaned up 814 items weighing 53kg from 350m of creek. The most common items were food wrappers, plastic bags, 95 soft drink cans and 35 golf balls! Read more “Gordonvale State School hosts the Excelsior Program”