Oakenden State School‘s Matilda Merkel wins spot in Farm Safety calendar
A Pioneer Valley schoolchild’s artwork was selected from 1500 entries as one of the 12 months of the Queensland Government’s Farm Safety calendar for 2023. See the full drawing and find out what they won.
Mackay
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A grade 6 student from the Pioneer Valley beat out hundreds of Queensland schoolchildren to be featured in 2023’s Farm Safety calendar.
Matilda Merkel goes to Oakenden State High School with just 13 other students, but her drawing reminding farmers to eat healthy has taken the cake.
From 15,000 entries, the month of February will feature her artwork of a girl calling farmer “Dave” in from the back paddock because “lunch is ready”.
A healthy lunch of fruit, sandwiches and water can be seen on the table next to the girl.
Whether the scene depicts something from Miss Merkel’s own life, only the artist knows.
Oakenden State School principal Angela Wood said the “school and community are so very proud of Matilda”.
“It demonstrates to our students and community members that just because you are from a small school, doesn’t mean you can’t do amazing things and change the world,” she said.
“(We are) so grateful that our school and local community will be represented on the big stage.”
The Farm Safety calendar competition for primary school kids helps spread advice about farm work, with each month providing different advice.
Thirty-thousand copies of the calendar are available for free to Queenslanders who order it from the Workplace Health and Safety website.
Each of the 12 artists featured won a $250 Visa gift voucher and $500 for their school.
Principal Wood said “the money will go a long way in helping us provide extra classroom resources to further our student’s learning”.
To order your free Farm Safety calendar or see the other month’s artworks, go to the Queensland WH & S website.
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