mmg.com.au

Deniliquin’s South, Edward and North primary schools, along with Conargo, Mathoura and Blighty primary schools, have all released environmental-themed books that were researched, written, illustrated and published by their own students.

The books, which are part of the 2012 Creative Catchment Kids program, were launched at Deniliquin South School on Thursday morning.

The students were required to write a story about a part of the environment in their town.

Deniliquin North School organising teacher Cynthia Smith said it was a great program.

‘‘The students benefited from being in such a collaborative program.

‘‘All their hard work really paid off when their environmentally friendly book, Harlow and Tjunda’s Great Adventure, was published.’’

Upper catchment manager from the Murray-Darling Association, Adrian Wells, who was in Deniliquin for the launch, said the students were ‘‘immensely proud’’ of the books.

‘‘It’s given the students a creative outlook for their writing but it also lets them write about something in their back yards.

‘‘Some of the students didn’t find it easy and changed their minds on topics, but as we explain, that’s what life’s like — there’s always going to be disappointment but there will always be celebration too.’’

The Catchment Kids books were recently showcased at a national conference on environmental education for south east Asia and the Pacific Islands.

Mr Wells said schools within the Murray catchment as far as the South Australia boarder would receive a copy of each book.

Deniliquin library is also expected to receive the books, which include contributions from 41 schools.

The Creative Catchment Kids program is an initiative of the Murray-Darling Association and Burrumbuttock Public School.

The year-long program began in 2010 and was so successful that the Murray CMA funded it for a further three years.

2012 was the first time students have written books for the projects, Mr Wells explained.

‘‘Next year the students will do a oral history program called Catchment Champions,’’ he said.

The books were printed by Deniliquin Newspapers Pty Ltd.