Unitywater brings theatre-based water education to students in Noosa

Pomona State School received a visit from ‘Walter Smart and Friends’.

Students at St Thomas More Primary School and Pomona State School received a visit from ‘Walter Smart and Friends’, in a live, in-school-theatre education performance about the importance of being water-wise, as part of Unitywater’s Education Program.

Unitywater executive manager strategic engagement, Joshua Zugajev, said investing in the ‘Walter Smart and Friends’ program had been an excellent way to engage and connect with primary school students about water efficiency.

“Teaching our young people the value of water to our community and our environment is important, which is why we’ve invested in ‘Walter Smart and Friends’ to engage our students in a fun and effective way that is aligned to the Australian curriculum,” Mr Zugajev said.

“Across three weeks, we will bring this entertaining and educational program to students at 27 schools across the Moreton Bay, Sunshine Coast and Noosa regions,” he said.

Unitywater has partnered with The Water Conservancy and theatre group Gibber Education to deliver this program.

Chief executive officer of The Water Conservancy, Chris Philpot, said that the ‘Walter Smart and Friends’ initiative started out as a collection of social media characters who were designed to inspire water efficient behaviour among young Australians.

“Our objective is to enable all Australians to be conscious of their relationship with water and to understand and value it, and use it efficiently, and facilitating education that is engaging us meet this,” Mr Philpot said.

Director of Gibber Educational, Vicky Blackburn, said Gibber Educational helps businesses and industries achieve a positive change in attitude and behaviour through innovative drama-based training.

“We’re pleased to deliver a bespoke production for Unitywater with ‘Walter Smart and Friends’ again this year, and our professional performers are looking forward to engaging with some enthusiastic, water-wise students on their travels,” said Blackburn.

The program is running across primary schools from Monday 10 June to Friday 21 June and Monday 21 October to Friday 25 October.