Competitions, displays, lectures and a free sausage sizzle will be some of the activities on offer at UQ’s inaugural Unigreen Awareness Day on Wednesday, June 4.
Queensland Environment Minister Dean Wells will attend the event to promote public place recycling through the launch of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Wastewise Program at the UQ Centre at 12pm.
UQ’s Unigreen Convenor Gary Portley said a special appearance by children’s favourite Whizzy the Waterdrop along with recycling relays and displays would emphasise the themes of water and waste.
“The aim is to raise awareness at UQ and among the local community about improving our environment through an appreciation of waste and water issues,” Mr Portley said.
“Recycling relays will be held to complement the launch of the Wastewise Program while Whizzy the Waterdrop wanders around campus reminding everyone to conserve water.”
UQ Environmental Management Centre Director Professor Tor Hundloe OA, Institute for Sustainable Futures Director Professor Stuart White and ABC Four Corners journalist and environmental author Ticky Fullerton will also present a free public lecture at the UQ Centre at 6:30pm entitled Our Water – Our Future.
“With 2003 being the Year of Freshwater the lecture will aim to raise awareness of water issues and explain how the environmental decisions we make today will affect us in 2020,” Mr Portley said.
“It will raise awareness about environmental management on campus and emphasise the importance of sustainable living,” he said.
During the day children from UQ’s Kindergartens will display their sustainable living projects and sculptures and the winners of a reverse garbage sculpture competition will be announced.
Everyone is invited to attend environmental talks and test their knowledge through fun competitions highlighting environmental issues.
“It will be an environmentally friendly action packed day and we encourage everyone to get involved,” Mr Portley said.
Competition prizes will include two nights accommodation at the luxurious Kingfisher Bay Resort on Fraser Island and family passes to Sea World and UnderWater World. The Environmental Protection Agency and Energex are sponsoring the Unigreen event.
Unigreen is a promotional arm of UQ and promotes environmental management throughout the University and the wider community. It ensures UQ has systems in place to increase recycling, reduce energy consumption and minimise water use.
For photos, telephone Diana Lilley on 07 3365 2753, email: d.lilley@uq.edu.au
Media: For more information, contact Kay Ollett (telephone 07 3365 2076, email: k.ollett@pf.uq.edu.au) or Leigh Thompson (telephone 07 3365 7580, email: l.thompsom@pf.uq.edu.au or Chris Saxby at UQ Communications (telephone 07 3365 2479, email: c.saxby@uq.edu.au).
