(Updated Nov 2024) Result!!! RESULT City of Parramatta S4P online competition – Speaking 4 the Planet

Trees sustain life. Trees sustain civilizations!   

Wherever we live in this country – near the coast, along rivers, in mountains or in cities like Parramatta – we have valuable trees and bushland. Trees are a part of our lives. And they matter. Trees sustain life. Trees sustain civilizations. 

If you are a high school student in Parramatta, join this speaking competition.

Information Package

Click here to read Information Package: Link.

It contains information on the topic, links to resources, and explanation and judging criteria for each category. Be sure to visit council’s website for information on such things as bushland management, canopy cover, tree replacement policies… 

Submission Portal

Click here to get to the Submission Portal: Link.

Closing date

25 October 2024.

Here’s what one student said about the 2023 competition

Trees are sanctuaries.

Whoever knows how to speak to them,

whoever knows how to listen to them,

can learn the truth.

Hermann Karl Hesse, (1877-1962)

The 2024 Kids 4 the Planet competition at Lakemba PS is entitled, Listening 2 the Planet.  It takes place on Thursday 27 June.

In this Stage 3 competition, students will compete in 5 categories:

1. Speaking
2. Writing
3. Art
4. Video
5. STEM

Read the Support Package: Here. 

Here’s a video by the K4P Ambassador, Minh Khue.  She is an 8 year-old student from Ba Dinh Primary School in Ha Noi, Viet Nam.

This year, the K4P competition asks participants to listen. To listen and hear. To hear and act. To the Earth. The Earth that provides clean air and water, good soils, and a climate that is habitable for all species. 

This year, students are asked to

• speak
• or write
• or draw
• or make videos
• or do a STEM activity

that shows the importance of listening. How to do it well. And what they hear… when they listen closely. 

Event Details

• Venue: Lakemba Public School
• Date: 27 June 2024

This event invites a handful of local schools in the immediate vicinity of Lakemba PS.  If you are in a different area – anywhere in Australia – and you want to host or participate in such an event, please contact Phil on phil@speaking4theplanet.org.au

Poster

Package link

Climate Action Burwood Canada Bay is taking the lead in bringing this 2024 S4P competition to the high schools of Burwood, Canada Bay and Strathfield local government areas.  The event will take place on Wednesday 5 June at Domremy College, Five Dock. The topic for the competition is Journey to a Greener Future. All entries and performances must be based on this topic.

Registration is essential.

Given the number of schools across the three LGAs, only nine schools can enter for the speaking and five schools for the drama categories. All schools can enter the art and writing categories.  

Schools must register by contacting Robin at footprintscabcb@gmail.com

See this information package for more details. It contains:

• Information on each competition category. 
• The judging criteria. 
• Links to relevant resources. 

Trees, the Guardians of Life

Join the 2024 national online S4P competition. The topic is Trees, the Guardians of Life. 

UPDATED: Deadline for submission is changed to 26 July 2024.

This change is as necessary because of the interest.

Trees, the Guardians of Life

• Support package: click on HERE.

• Submission link: SUBMIT HERE

Trees sustain life. Trees sustain civilizations!   

From the blue beaches to its red centre, Australia is blessed with diverse and unique woodlands, rainforests and bushland. It has 130 million hectares of forests – about 17% of its land area.  

Australia has some of the worst rates of deforestation in the world – comparable to Indonesia and Brazil.

• Over 73% of deforestation is for beef production. Trees are bulldozed, invasive grasses are planted and cattle are brought in. 
  
• From 2016-2021, over 2.2 million hectares of forest and bushland was bulldozed in Queensland alone.
  
• The majority of beef sold in Australia ends up sold at Woolworths, Coles, McDonalds and Hungry Jacks. 
  
• Today, just 50% of Australia’s original forests and bushland remain intact.

From GreenPeace.org.au

Wherever we live in this country – near the coast, along rivers, in mountains or on plains – we have valuable trees and bushland. Trees are a part of our lives. And they matter. From the northern tropical regions down through sub-tropical regions to temperate zones, we have trees everywhere. They are a part of our lives. And they matter. Trees sustain life. Trees sustain civilizations. 

This year, the S4P competition asks participants to focus on the importance of their local bushland – for themselves and their communities and their regions. 

This topic is linked to Sustainable Development Goal 15 – Life on Land. 

All councils in Australia are invited to participate. And there are two ways you can take part in this competition.

One – register to support the online competition. In this way, all youth aged 12 – 18 in your LGA can participate.  Note that teachers are also invited to participate in this online competition!

…or…

Two – hold a live event in your LGA for your schools. 

Please read this flier.

To register or discuss the possibility of a live event, please contact Phil at phil@speaking4theplanet.org.au

Prizes 

Once again, Paddy Pallin, a competition partner, will provide very practical items for first place in each category.

This year, we have decided to add a monetary element to the prizes.  In addition to the item from Paddy Pallin, first place winners will receive $100. Second place winners will receive $100.

Submission Link

Submit your work here: SUBMISSION FORM

Closing date 

The closing date will be Friday, 26 JULY, 2024.

Winners will be announced on the S4P website on National Tree Day, Sunday, 31 August 2024. 

Here’s Support Package 

You can read the Trees, the Guardians of Life package HERE.

It contains information on the topic, links to resources, and explanation and judging criteria for each category. Be sure to contact your local council and visit its website for information on such things as bushland management, canopy cover, tree replacement policies… 

Here’s what one student said about the 2023 competition

List of registered Councils