26 October 2009
Recently arrived residents studying at Yarraville Community Centre and Werribee Community and Education Centre have taken part in National Water Week celebrations through a photography competition that showcases how to save water in the home.
The competition was held to help communicate the importance of water conservation to recently arrived communities to Melbourne in a fun and interactive manner.
City West Water Managing Director, Anne Barker, said the competition was a great way to introduce important water conservation messages to newly arrived residents.
“The photo competition is just one of many ways City West Water reaches out to all manner of groups across our community to help teach the importance of water conservation,” Ms Barker said.
“City West Water dedicates substantial resources to engaging many of our community groups, and this competition is great way to get recently arrived members of our community familiar with water conservation.
“While the broader community has adapted to water conservation over time, we develop programs that target newly arrived and culturally and linguistically diverse communities who may not have an understanding of the importance of water conservation.”
The winning entry by Cai Mei Liu from Yarraville Community Centre depicted the reuse of greywater from the home on the garden. Runners-up entries by Regina, from Werribee Community Centre and Mula Desta from Yarraville Community Centre, both also depicted the reuse of greywater in the home.
The winners will share in prizes worth over $900, with the winner receiving an enlarged framed print of their winning photograph as well as $300 worth of Borders vouchers. Runners-up will each receive $150 worth of vouchers.
Ms Barker said more than 30 entries were received for the competition, with images depicting water conservation messages, as well as illustrating how the students collected and carried water in their native countries.
“We had a great response to the competition, and the entries demonstrated the students’ understanding of water conservation as well as allowing them to express a hidden creative flair.”
The photography competition will now become a regular feature in City West Water’s National Water Week activities in 2010 and beyond.