New Living Murray unit welcomed

Murray-Darling Basin Commission (MDBC) Chief Executive Dr Wendy Craik AM today welcomed the inclusion of Living Murray educational materials in the curriculum of upper primary students throughout New South Wales.

“We are delighted that the ideas and projects created by school students from six schools along the upper Murray River, which we helped to fund, will now form a new work unit for pupils across 2000 schools in the State,” Dr Craik said.

The environmental curriculum projects includes a “Living River” education workbook and a children’s river health poster (produced by students for students).

Dr Craik was speaking at one of the six schools – Burrumbuttock Public School – where she launched a new MDBC funded display of native fish species and an educational DVD on the MDBC’s Living Murray program.

This display will be part of the Wirraminna Environmental Education Centre at Burrumbuttock. The materials and the new DVD will be available to schools as well as being downloadable from the NSW Department of Education and Training curriculum website.
The MDBC’s Living Murray program is one of world’s most significant river restoration programs. It aims to achieve a healthy working Murray River system.
“These projects have been made possible through the Murray-Darling Association with funding assistance from the MDBC and the Commonwealth Government’s Quality Teacher Program,” Dr Craik said.

“The Association and Owen Dunlop, Principal of Burrumbuttock Public School who coordinated the development of the work unit and educational materials, are to be congratulated on a major achievement.

“Along with the students who helped create the unit, they have shown real enthusiasm in learning about the Murray River and wanting to do something about it.”
Dr Craik said the MDBC was proud to support educational programs such as these which helped create awareness of the need for environmental sensitivity.
“Since 1993 we have funded a number of environmental education programs, including Special Forever – an innovative and award winning program through which children across the Basin learn about their ecological and natural resources systems through discussion, creative writing and visual art,” Dr Craik said.

“This new work unit will add another dimension to environmental education in NSW.”

Click here to download the approved Living River curriculum from the NSW Department of Education

Click here to visit the Living Murray Project section.