2008 Tasmania Together Youth Challenge Results

First prize:

Nonhlanhla Bulle, Marist Regional College

The world is constantly changing and we are seeing more inter racial and international socialisation around us. But at times we concentrate on how we feel about the goings-on that surround us, when we actually need to focus on how we feel about ourselves. My entry represents that, it’s important to be at harmony with the world and yourself alike.

Highly Commended:

Hutchins School (Group entry)

The concept for the underpass project came from a need to fix the current underpass paintjob. The underpass was once colourful and bright, but has recently been painted completely black to prevent graffiti and it is now very dark and unappealing.
The Student Representative Council suggested the underpass could be painted with a new design, to bring back some life and colour to the underpass. Soon afterwards the Hutchins School was invited to take part in the Tasmania Together 2020 Competition. The idea that a new design for the underpass could be the school’s entry in the competition was proposed and the SRC liked the concept, so it was decided that a 3D simulation of the underpass design could be made, and that it would reflect how we see Tasmania now, and how we see Tasmania in the year 2020. The team of Computer-designers was formed and we decided that the underpass should be painted with a muted underground/urban themed background, and that it would feature windows into the future issues important to us in 2020.

Commended:

Obi Wan - Elizabeth College

This Song is about how all Tasmanians have a right to a future, and they can do with it anything they want - the future is theirs. The title 'Have It Your Way' essentially encapsulates this idea. It also touches on the issue of Tasmania keeping its natural beauty as intact as possible - something we all believe. Everybody has equal opportunity and it is up to every person to do what they want with this opportunity.

First prize:

Phoebe Wyatt - Independent entry

My picture tells about the youth of today bringing about the ‘wind of change’ to the future. Also, it is about how we should enhance the natural elements (sun, earth, water, wind) to create renewable and clean energy. Come on all you young people we hold the key to the future.

Highly Commended:

Storm Holwill - Marist Regional College

Report 1: Can’t see the Carbon for the Trees
My vision for Tasmania is that we should provide leadership in Australia toward taking immediate action against climate change. I think that a whole variety of approaches will need to be implemented in order to solve the problem. I have investigated two methods of sequestering atmospheric carbon dioxide as a means of curbing global warming.
Firstly, I have examined the capacity of Tasmanian hardwoods plantations to provide a sink for atmospheric carbon. I have also compared hardwoods with softwoods and find that hardwoods absorb significantly more atmospheric carbon dioxide.
In my second report, submitted separately, but to be considered as part of the same entry, I have investigated the feasibility of using marine microalgae, grown in water collected from Bass Strait, as a plant biomass source for the production of biodiesel. The marine algae would, not only sequester carbon dioxide during growth, but also provide raw materials for biodiesel production without the use of land-space or freshwater (as is necessary for corn and other food-crops currently used).

Report 2: Just a drop in the Ocean
My vision for Tasmania is that we should provide leadership in Australia toward taking immediate action against climate change. I think that a whole variety of approaches will need to be implemented in order to solve the problem. I have investigated two methods of sequestering atmospheric carbon dioxide as a means of curbing global warming.
In my first report, submitted separately, but to be considered as part of the same entry, I have examined the capacity of Tasmanian hardwoods plantations to provide a sink for atmospheric carbon. I have also compared hardwoods with softwoods and find that hardwoods absorb significantly more atmospheric carbon dioxide. In my second report, uploaded here, I have investigated the feasibility of using marine microalgae, grown in water collected from Bass Strait, as a plant biomass source for the production of biodiesel. The marine algae would, not only sequester carbon dioxide during growth, but also provide raw materials for biodiesel production without the use of land-space or freshwater (as is necessary for corn and other food-crops currently used).

Commended:

Studentworks (Group Entry)

We believe this cardboard model represents our future. We're engaging on a voyage together. Its exciting and scary but we're in it together. We might not be all going to the same place, some of us will get off sooner than others and that's OK but together the future looks brighter and the skills and competencies we're learning will fit us for a better tomorrow. We didn't think the model would turn out as well as it has and sometimes education can be a bit like that - its better looking back at it. The model is firmly fixed towards tomorrow. Its fun but it is also useful and that's what learning's like.

First prize:

Cody and River Johnson (Group Entry) - Home school

Everyone wants to be "healthy" and "obesity" might be just about getting "healthy". We hope we have given lots of ideas on how to take responsibility for our health, happiness and well being. We think these ideas will help in lots of other ways too. Like suicide and depression and there is not anyone who cannot be involved in some way to the road of beginning a new lease of life.

Highly Commended:

Katelyn Davy - Ogilvie High School

Tasmania Together is the vision for our beautiful State in the year 2020 based on the wishes of today's community. This long-term plan includes 12 goals, one of them being for Tasmania to have "high-quality education and training for lifelong learning and a skilled workforce." This is the goal that I think will affect me and my role in this State the most. I also believe that this is the most important goal, as without education, there are no opportunities to change the future.
The third benchmark under this goal is to have "access to, and participation in life-long learning that is responsive to individual and community needs." I interpreted this to mean that we need to focus on trying our best and making the most of our education for the benefit of others, as well as ourselves.
My project promotes Tasmania Together, by showing that the goals they have set are realistic and achievable, and that we can all help to make our State an even better place to live in.

Commended:

Nenagh Cavarretta - Ogilvie High School

My Youth Challenge project show's the life of homeless people now in 2008 and what it should be like by the year 2020. The first poster represents now. It is showing the home of someone who doesn't live in a house and how they life of the have got around them
The second poster shows the home of a person living in a house in the year 2020. How their life is better than it was.
Housing homeless people as one of the 2020 targets is an area I believe we should really focus on. That's why I did my project on homeless people. To show how hard it can be living in a park or a street of an alleyway. It shows that life could be better and we can do something about it!

First prize:

Green House Gas Emissions (Group entry) - South Arm Primary

Our entry reflects on the simple ways Tasmanians can help the fight against greenhouse gas emissions. By taking simple steps, Tasmanians, young and old, can help Tasmania stay the wonderful, unique place it is now.

Highly Commended:

Hamish Sellers - South Arm Primary

My vision of Tasmania is to keep it safe.

Commended:

Sarah MacDonald - South Arm Primary

My entry shows the environment we have in Tasmania at the moment, and then what it could become. When I grow up I want my children to enjoy the same places that I do, but for this to happen, we need to protect the environment.

First prize:

3/4 Wilson (Group entry) - Blackmans Bay Primary

The teaching and learning undertaken so far in this unit explores our community and an understanding of the four pillars of sustainability; ecological, political, social and cultural. The goals of Tasmania Together are inherent in this teaching and learning.
We have looked at the Tasmania Together goals (see class Tasmania Together booklet; goals 1 -10), we have looked at our community, what is unique or special; we have looked at our needs and wants and completed several activities about the differences. We have examined what really constitutes a need (see project books). We have looked at the resources in our community and what we would really like to see, the sort of future that we would like to have when we grow up and have children. It is our vision for the future (see photo story). We have represented the elements that would make us happy to live in our community in the future; these entries reflect Tasmania Together goals 1 -0. The teaching and learning undertaken in this unit of work is a microcosm of the community consultation process undertaken by Tasmania Together, it is consulting the children and giving them a voice. This educates children about the processes of government. It is not something that we are divorced from. They begin to understand the consultation is a part of the process of democracy; that the community is consulted and the outcomes work for the community as a whole. This unit of work is ongoing.

Highly Commended:

Prep/One Haley & Buddy class 3/4 Wilson (Group entry) - Blackmans Bay Primary

We are learning to grow vegetables; we worked as buddies to record the outcome of our endeavours (sustainable living; encouraging sustainable and appropriate land use, reducing the use of chemicals and our carbon footprint: Goal 12). We planted and look after our school organic vegetable garden. The project has been successful and now we are in the process of enlarging it at another site in our school ground to become a community garden. The teaching and learning within this component of sustainable living endeavours to influence and form opinions through hands-on experience. This is part of Goal 3: High quality education and training providing us with the skills we need

Commended:

Yahi Davidson - Home School

Stop these little vampires from breeding disease. Keep our water ways clean. This mossy is called a little vampire and is made from litter

First prize:

Friends School Kindergarten (Group entry)

Our entry promotes Tasmania Together because each of our students has had an opportunity to have their say about how Tasmania can be a better place. They have been provided with an opportunity to have their say about their state and their hopes and aspirations are all accurately reflected in the Tasmania Together‘s goals, vision and benchmarks. Whilst a minority of answers are egotistical, many students’ suggestions would in fact reflect the views of the wider community.

Highly Commended:

North East Home School Group K - 2

This entry promotes Tasmania Together by encouraging the concept of not littering. The children were challenged to make litter bugs from rubbish with the underlying message of not being a litterbug! As part of the activity we read the story of 'Lester and Clyde" by James H Reece, which has the theme of keeping the world beautiful and not spoiling it with rubbish. The children collected rubbish in the community and we discussed the 3 R's - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and the impact that litter can have on wildlife. The children decorated a 'shopping box' to put their litterbugs in to post, which will later be used for shopping when it is returned to support a plastic bag free environment.

Commended:

1/2 Patenoster (Group entry) - Warrane Primary School

Our grade one/two class has looked through a window to see their future. They have made postcards from the year 2020 to send back in time to the present day. Each child has depicted a Tasmania they would like to see when they are 19 years old. They have envisioned their future possibilities and considered the things they would like to see change to make Tasmania a better place.