Nine students from Goolwa Primary School received Children’s Week awards last Wednesday for their passionate campaign to save the River Murray.

The awards recognise children’s contribution to the community and reward outstanding academic achievement for community service, sport, or the arts.

Joshua, Alisha, Grace, Bradie, Cheyenne, Amelia, Kurt, Lauren and Tim were among 1700 young people to recently attend the International Rivers Conference in Canberra.

Particularly concerned about the water crisis facing the Lower Lakes and Coorong, the students discussed the issue with the Federal Minister for Climate Change, Penny Wong.

Full of passion and hope for the Murray’s future, the Year 6 and 7 students are integral members of the Murray Darling Basin Junior Youth Environmental Forum Group.

The Shadow Minister for the River Murray, Adrian Pederick, congratulated the students on taking action to save the river.

“It is particularly pleasing to see the children taking a proactive role in addressing these serious problems,” he said.

“Taking part in this...conference shows their genuine concern for the environment and their willingness to be part of the solution.

“It will be their generation’s river soon and it is reassuring to see them taking the lead on its survival and recovery.”

Goolwa Primary School teacher Murray Porter said the group has inspired a surge of interest from other students keen to become involved next year.

“The whole experience has given a boost of enthusiasm for kids trying to play a more active role in the problems facing the Lower Lakes,” he said.

The students received their awards at Government House last week.