Georgie dives into vital task for turtles
MEET the Sydney northern beaches girl who is leading the charge among youths to better protect sea turtles
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MEET the Sydney northern beaches girl who is leading the charge among youths to better protect sea turtles.
Georgie Goudie, 12, of Avalon was named as the regional Sydney winner of the Sea Life Trust’s Sea Turtle Champion competition.
Sea turtles are under increasing threat from plastic pollution, prompting the trust, a wildlife charity, to embark on a search for a young ambassador to lead a global awareness campaign.
Georgie beat out other young hopefuls for the regional title after winning over judges with a story that detailed her personal accounts with turtles.
Georgie wrote about how she spent more than a week snorkelling with turtles on Western Australia’s Ningaloo Reef last year.
“I’ve always loved animals since I was a baby,” she said.
“Turtles have always been at the top of the list.
“They are such beautiful animals.
“Once you get up close to them, they are so cruisy and relaxed ... their shells are so pretty.”
By winning the regional title, Georgie is now in the running to become national champion – and possibly global champion after that.
Last week she worked with Manly Sea Life Sanctuary staff to make an educational video about the plight of sea turtles and threats they face in the wild.
The national winner will be determined from video submissions of all regional winners.
An announcement will be made later this month.
Manly Sea Life Sanctuary’s life sciences manager, Rob Townsend, said the young ambassador role would go a long way to helping spread awareness about turtles’ plight.
“All seven species of sea turtles are endangered and are faced with unprecedented threats in the wild which are threatening their ability to just survive,” Mr Townsend said.
“Fishing nets, plastic pollution, boat strikes, habitat loss and coastal development are individually and cumulatively impacting upon turtle numbers around the world.”
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