WINNING WARRIORS
Whale The wait to find the Gold Coast’s Warrior is over, as Emma and Max crown. Rutherford step up to share the
THE search is over for the Gold Coast’s Young Whale Warrior, but this time the title has been awarded to not one, but two young environmentalists.
Siblings Max, 12, and Emma Rutherford, 10 from Clover Hill State School were selected among entries from all across the Gold Coast for their submission, a video put together all on their own.
Their concern for the amount of plastic in our oceans led them to enter the competition.
“I love whales and am passionate about the war on waste and the environment,” Max said.
“I know I will be a great ambassador for the Spirit of Gold Coast as the Young Whale Warrior.”
As Whale Warriors the pair will receive a family season pass for Spirit of Gold Coast as well as a prize pack including T-shirts, hats and the ultimate day out with marine biologist Zara King.
They are the second winners to come from Clover Hill State School, following last year’s winner Bobby Walls.
Bobby previously told the Bulletin that although he was sad to be handing over his title to the new winners, he had an amazing time working with the group following his win.
“We’ve met up with Sea Shephard and cleaned up our beaches, and we found a poor little baby stingray, and I’ve actually got the barb of it in a jar at home,” he said.
Spirit of Gold Coast Whale Watching spokeswoman Angela Del Bianco said her team created the annual award to connect with the next generation of environmentalists.
“With the Humpback Highway on our doorstep, we feel it is our responsibility to create opportunities for young people in our community to connect with and protect this natural phenomenon,” he said.
“Our team were so impressed with the high calibre of entrants received for this year’s competition and we are amazed by the passion and love evident, not only for whales but for the preservation of our natural environment as a whole.”
When the competition started in July, Ms Del Bianco and marine biologist Ms King visited a number of local schools in the hopes of encouraging conservation.
“I hope the Young Whale Warriors will learn new information about whales and the oceans that surround us and I hope they will be enthusiastic in wanting to pass the information along to help save our environment.”