Community & Business
10 December, 2024
Major Win For Allora P-10 ATSIAP Team
The Allora P-10 State School Junior ATSIAP (Aboriginal & Torres Straight Islander Aspiration Program) team were awarded first place in the State Challenge.
The team had placed 3rd in the Darling Downs Regional Challenge in Term 3 and progressed to the State Challenge in Term 4.
Fletcher, Rikaya and Cammii also placed second in their persuasive speech and the impromptu drama presentation.
The three students collaborated on a long-term challenge project that required them to design a sustainable, environmentally friendly solution to a local problem in a Caring For Country project.
This is the group’s introduction to the project that earned first place:
Through investigations and conversations with several community groups and our Elders, independent research and field observations, it is evident that introduced species of flora and fauna by European settlers in Allora has significantly impacted our local environment; especially along the local Dalrymple Creek.
The 2 most impactful invasive species are the European Carp (Cyprinus carpio) and the Chinese Elm tree (Ulmus pavifolia). This damage includes a reduction in native flora and fauna species, notably reduced health of native trees on the creek bed compared to samples further away from that zone, increased soil erosion along creek banks, increased use of harmful chemicals for weed control leading to run off into the waterways and health implications for humans and animals, and the increasing dominance of introduced and invasive species.
Our project centres on a community education program and replenishing native species of Catfish and She-oaks.
The team were presented with their trophies by Griffith University, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Professor Bronwyn Fredericks and Deputy Director General, First Nations Strategy and Partnerships, Philip Brooks.
This is an amazing achievement for Allora P-10 SS to be awarded State Champions of Junior ATSIAP, 2024.
Congratulations to the team and to their school supervisor, Mrs Linda Sharman.
