The Reef Authority today launched a new campaign rallying hundreds of thousands of students, teachers and families through its Reef Guardian School program to support the Reef’s nomination for the Champions of the Earth - Lifetime Achievement Award.

The campaign is part of the Lifetime of Greatness Project, which Tourism Tropical North Queensland developed in collaboration with the Reef Authority’s Reef Guardian Councils, Traditional Owners, Master Reef Guides, and the tourism industry.

It has already reached over 5 billion people and attracted more than 1.3 million supporters worldwide. 

If successful, the Reef would become the first living entity and non-human recipient of the highest environmental honour awarded by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

The Reef Authority’s Director of Education Fiona Merida said safeguarding the Reef for future generations was at the heart of the bid.

• “This award is not just about honouring the Reef for its contribution to humankind, it’s about reminding the world what’s at stake - and why we must protect it,’’ Ms Merida said.

“We will be throwing the full weight of our Reef Guardian School network of over 400 schools, 13,000 teachers and 225,000 students behind this campaign.

“We will use our virtual classrooms, school newsletters, Reef Guardian School Global Portal and social media to share the story of why the Great Barrier Reef deserves this honour.

“By standing together, we hope to play a part in securing this award and inspire global recognition for the Reef’s lifetime of greatness.”

Tourism Tropical North Queensland Chief Executive Mark Olsen said the Reef’s influence reached far beyond its 2,300-kilometre coastline.

• “The Great Barrier Reef changes people’s lives - it inspires, educates and drives action,” Mr Olsen said.
  “That’s why our industry and our communities stand behind this nomination.”

As part of the launch, Bentley Park College and Reef Guardian School students Ella Carter, 12, and Lily Yang, 12, visited the outer Reef off Cairns on the Passions of Paradise catamaran and went snorkelling with a Master Reef Guide.

• “I love to snorkel on the Reef because I can see all the fish and animals, and the coral is pretty and colourful,” Ella said. 

“The Reef protects the coast and the creatures that live in the reef, and when I saw a turtle swimming, it reminded me of how alive the Reef is and how much it needs our help to look after it.”

• “When I go snorkeling, I love seeing all the coral, fish and animals. It makes me feel proud that kids like us can help protect the Reef. If we can love it, we can save it,” Lily said.

The Reef is home to more than 9,000 described species of marine life and thousands more yet to be described species, from giant clams to whales, and stretches across an area larger than Italy. For 10,000 years, it has inspired connections through culture, science, education and stories. Today, it inspires a global movement to ensure it remains a beacon of natural beauty.

Passions of Paradise owner Alan Wallish said a lifetime as great as the Great Barrier Reef’s deserved to be recognised.

• “Every trip out to the Reef, we see people’s eyes light up the moment they put their face in the water.

“The Reef has this incredible power to change the way people see the world - it turns visitors into lifelong ambassadors.”
For more information and to support the campaign, visit: alifetimeofgreatness.com

For stills/vision and interviews click here.

This project has been made possible by Tourism Tropical North Queensland, and the grant funding received from the Australian Government, under the International Tourism Recovery Program administered by Austrade. 

ENDS …

Contact: Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
Media Hotline: (07) 4750 0846 | media@gbrmpa.gov.au