2024 Gold Coast Eco Marines Breakfast

​​

On Tuesday 15 October fellow EcoMarines Ambassadors and I attended the Gold Coast Annual ​Eco Marines breakfast held at the Southport Sharks. It was a wonderful experience to interact with ambassadors from other schools and hear of the work they have undertaken and their initiative in advocating for our environment. Listening to them has inspired us to develop new Eco Marines activities at QAHS, such as creating a sunflower bed in our school's community garden. This initiative will allow us and other students to actively care for our environment and hopefully even harvest the seeds one day continuing the positive legacy of the Eco Marines Group.  We additionally heard speeches from local politicians for their future plans to better our environment. This was exciting news to hear, as we have not only helped better the environment on a local scale but a regional one. I would encourage all students interested in creating a lasting eco- friendly and sustainable environment to share their ideas and join in this pursuit Ruby Tam, Eco Marines Ambassador.

As we move into 2025, QAHS will be running the Eco Marines program again. With the help of new members we hope to undertake a variety of projects which will contribute to our school's overall mission in achieving sustainability.  

1. A miniature sunflower farm! Utilizing the seeds gifted to our ambassadors at the 2024 celebratory breakfast, sunflowers will be planted in a section of the QAHS community garden. Not only will the community be able to enjoy these beautiful flowers, but the seeds can then be harvested to be shared throughout all our student groups. This is a long-term project that requires minimal effort to get off the ground so we would love for our broader student body to get involved.  Very environmentally friendly and sustainable.
2. Our second goal for 2025 is to hold the first annual QAHS waterways clean-up day! Just behind our school is a beautiful creek, in the same area that we run cross-country every year. Contributing to local sustainability sets a standard for global sustainability. This project would be the main goal of 2025, and we will need all the help we can get.  
3. The Eco Marines CAS group will be seeking new members at the beginning of 2025, and it is open to all year 10 and 11 students. There is opportunity to apply for an ambassador position within the group, however there is plenty of availability for all other students to get involved with a Support Crew position.
   
4. Throughout Term 4 during Weeks 2,3 and 4, Ruby Tam and Marion Khoo collaborated with Mrs Vallen to plant some beautiful native trees around the school grounds, for National Tree Planting month in August. A variety of different plants such as violets, hydrangea, fairy lights and subulatas were planted near the refectory, outside administration and near E Block. It was an amazing and therapeutic experience which allowed us to contribute making the school environment greener and reintroduce new and colourful native plants. ​