What do you love about your place? – kids’ competition launched

Posted 20 October 2014.

The competition is part of the SA Arid Lands Natural Resources Management Board’s broader campaign ‘It’s your place’ which was launched in July to encourage community to share what makes the region such a special place.

It is one of the first steps the Board is taking to work with the community to develop its new Regional NRM Plan which will set the region’s priorities for the next 10 years.

Presiding Member of the SAAL NRM Board Janet Brook said the aim of the kids’ competition is to connect with children of all ages who have a relationship with the region.

“It is important for the Board to engage with all facets of the community, and this competition provides a unique way to hear from our future leaders,’ she said.

‘In 10 years a lot of these students will be in their 20s and many will be working in various industries – by connecting with them now the Board hopes to get them thinking about natural resources management and what they value in the region.

‘We would like them to think about what they do on weekends or on holidays – do they go to the Flinders Ranges to go rock-climbing, perhaps they fish at Algebuckina Waterhole or go camping with their family in the Gawler Ranges.’

‘It might be their local footy club or a recent school trip they loved, or maybe they’re more into the sights and sounds or plants and animals of our unique part of the world – whatever it is we want to know.’

And the competition’s not just for outback kids.

‘It’s not just residents who live in our region,’ said Ms Brook. ‘Many people holiday here and we recognise the outback and its many experiences hold a special place for visiting kids too.’

Creative competition entries are encouraged: ‘We’d love to hear what our kids think the region will look like in 20 years – maybe we’ll be visited by aliens? Or perhaps we’ll be grappling with the effects of climate change. Kids can even tell us what they’d like it to look like in 20 years – maybe it will be one giant wildlife sanctuary full of special plants and animals.

‘There’s so much we can do with technology now to showcase the special things about the region – our outback characters, our extraordinary plants and animals, our salt lakes and waterholes – but we love the written word too,’ she said.

‘We'll accept anything – a story, a poem, a photo, a video – anything goes – just as long as it showcases South Australia’s outback region and what makes it special to them.'

There are three age categories – 5-8, 9-12, 13-17 – with the winner of each category winning a 16GB iPad; there are also prizes for the seven runners up.

The competition is now open and runs until November 30. Winners will be announced on the Natural Resources SA Arid Lands website on 19 December.

Find out more about how to enter the What do you love about your place? Outback SA competition.

The rest of the community are encouraged to continue sharing their values with the Board – tell us what matters to you.