Renowned Aboriginal steel artist Wayne ‘Liwingu’ McGinness has agreed to kindly donate $4 from each sale of his exquisite steel butterflies to Life Education Queensland.

The Kuranda-based artist has built a successful career producing works for galleries and corporate clients. His love of Aboriginal art combined with his steel fabricator skills has enabled him to develop a unique artistic style. Each of his designs represents animals of his childhood and of his grandparent's land.

He started by designing and fabricating a five metre crocodile out of rusty recycled steel and received such a positive response that he started crafting other Australian animals. So passionate was Wayne that he and his family sold their family home in 2008 and reinvested the money into their business. The move proved successful and has enabled Wayne to grow and expand his work year on year.

Life Education Queensland was introduced to Wayne through Kent Beasley from Wesfarmers Resources, for whom Wayne had designed many corporate gifts. Life Education Queensland CEO, Michael Fawsitt approached Wayne and asked him to design an award which would be presented to five category winners at Life Education’s 2012 Children’s Day Awards. 

Wayne McGinness and the winner of the Children’s Day Sports Award, Preston Campbell

The relationship further developed when Wayne attended the Children’s Day Awards lunch and saw that Wesfarmers Resources had donated 35 of Wayne’s steel Ulysses butterflies to Life Education. These were auctioned during the lunch and raised over $2,000 to support Life Education’s work with Queensland children. Wayne was also inspired by the speakers and moved by the children’s stories. Being a father of three children Wayne connected with Life Education’s vision and wanted to help further. In response, Wayne is now donating $4 from the sale of each steel butterfly to Life Education Queensland, which are available to purchase via his website.

Also known as the Blue Mountain Butterfly or the Blue Mountain Swallowtail it is characterised by its electric blue colour on its upper wings. For many, butterflies symbolise transformation due to the significant life change they undertake. This compliments the work of Life Education as its programs aim to transform childrens’ lives by equipping them with vital skills and knowledge that they need to live a safe and healthy life.

Life Education Queensland would sincerely like to thank Wayne McGinness for his donation of $4 from each steel butterfly sale. Funds raised will help improve the health and wellbeing of Queensland children.

Butterflies can be purchased for $17 from Wayne’s website here.

Today the Prime Minister Julia Gillard launched Life Education’s new cyber safety module bCyberwise developed in partnership with McAfee at Yates Avenue Primary School, Dundas in Sydney’s west. The launch was attended by David Ballhausen, CEO of Life Education, Andrew Littleproud President McAfee Asia Pacific, Julie Owens MP Parramatta and offered the Prime Minister the opportunity to visit a Mobile Learning Centre to experience the delivery of this exciting new program.

For over 30 years, Life Education has partnered with schools, teachers and parents to empower Australian children, preparing them to make safe and healthy choices.
Children today are offered new and exciting positive opportunities to use digital media and the internet in their educational, leisure and social lives. However these opportunities also open them up to potential risks to their safety and wellbeing such as cyberbullying.

It is for this reason that Life Education has partnered with McAfee to create the bCyberwise module, new for 2013, to be offered in primary schools across Australia as part of the Life Education program. The module will enable children to develop the knowledge, skills and values they need for their online experiences to be safe, respectful and constructive.

Life Education has always taught a set of values and skills that promote social and emotional development, positive relationships, self-respect and critical thinking to help children make safe and healthy choices. Through our partnership with McAfee and in consultation with some of Australia’s leading educators such as Doctor Helen McGrath, Life Education is now applying these learning experiences to online and digital environments.

Through our exciting Mobile Learning Centre experience, students in years 3 and 4 will be presented with engaging videos, discussion, problem-solving and role-play and will be given the opportunity to practice core life skills focussing on responsible online behaviour, cyber safety and cyber security.

David Ballhausen, CEO Life Education explains the partnership with McAfee and the work that Life Education is doing to support schools, teachers and Australian children to ensure that the next generation of Australians make healthy, safe and informed digital decisions

For more information about the launch of the bCyberwise module please download the press release
Schools requiring more information about the new module should contact their local Life Education state office here

External Links:

Sydney Morning Herald

Parenting Australia

Essential Kids

Australian Teacher Magazine

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Over 300 guests and dignitaries supported this year’s inaugural Children’s Day Awards held last Wednesday at the Sebel City Gate in Brisbane. The fundraising event for Life Education Queensland coincided with International Children’s Week and brought attention to children’s future health and well being by recognising those making an outstanding contribution to the lives of Queensland children.

Keynote speaker: Hon John Howard OM AC “The Global Economy and Australia’s Future”
Welcome: The Hon Campbell Newman MP, Premier of Queensland
MC: Channel Nine News Presenter & Journalist Melissa Downes

Guests were entertained by Paul Martell, one of Australia’s funniest comedians, the Marymount College All Female Vocal Ensemble and 11 year old student Amelia Fawsitt with ‘Smile’ a tribute for Annabel Catt who lost her life in 2007 from taking Ecstasy.

The Awards were designed by Queensland Indigenous Steel Artist Wayne McGuiness.

Although the Selection Panel had a challenging task in evaluating all the very worthy nominees, they finally reached consensus on the following winners:

CHILDREN’S CHAMPION AWARD a Queenslander who has made an outstanding contribution to improving the health and well being of Queensland children.
Sponsored by Wesfarmers
Presented by Hon Rob Borbidge
Winner:Paul Stanley – The Matthew Stanley Foundation

SCHOOL AWARD a Queensland Primary school that is setting an example through its commitment to healthy and active initiatives to enhance student well being.
Sponsored by BMAG
Presented by Hon Lawrence Springborg Minister for Health and Member for Southern Downs
Winner: Woongoolba State School

HAROLD’S HERO AWARD a Queensland student or a group of students who have made a real difference to their local community
Sponsored by Channel Nine
Presented by Mrs Lisa Newman
Winner: Cody Harris

SPORTS AWARD a Queensland sportsman or sports woman who is a positive role model to young people
Sponsored by 4BC III6 Newstalk
Presented by Darren Lockyer
Winner: Preston Campbell

BUSINESS AWARD a Queensland business or Corporate that is contributing to the community through a focus of improving the lives of Queensland children
Sponsored by Invigorate
Presented by Hon Campbell Newman MP Premier of Queensland
Winner: Carlo Lorenti, Clayfield Fresh Markets

Huge thanks to our sponsors Wesfarmers, Invigorate, 4BC, BMAG and Channel 9 for supporting these awards.

Thank you also to the many businesses who donated items for our auction and raffle – your commitment to Life Education is much valued.

With celebrities like Jack Thompson reading the very evocative Clancy of the Overflow, and John Williamson singing It’s Raining on the Rock - a tribute to Entertainment Award winner, Dr Jimmy Little (posthumously) - the 5th annual Gold Harold Awards was an outstanding success!

This year’s nominees included Jessica Rowe, Mikey Robins, Sarah Murdoch, Rebecca Gibney, Lee Kernaghan, Kevin Sheedy AM, Preston Campbell, Rev Tim Costello, Andrew Forrest, Dr John Irvine and corporate giants Rio Tinto, Toll and Lend Lease.

Although the Selection Panel had a challenging task in evaluating all the very worthy nominees, they finally reached consensus on the following winners:

Our winners were:

Corporate: National Australia Bank, represented by Rebecca Sherwill, Head of Education
Sponsor: Budget Car & Truck Rental, represented by George Proos, Senior Vice President & Managing Director Australia & Asia Pacific
Presenter: Janine Allis, Founder & Director, Boost Juice Bars

Education: Jack Manning Bancroft, CEO of AIME
Sponsor: Educational Experience, represented by Angela Gibson, General Manager
Presenter: The Hon Pru Goward MP, Minister for Family & Community Services and Minister for Women

Entertainment: Dr James Little AO (posthumously), represented by Graham ‘Buzz’ Bidstrup, CEO of the Jimmy Little Foundation
Sponsor: AdvancedLife Photography, represented by Jason Isherwood, Director
Presenter: Mikey Robins

Harold’s Best Mate: Reverend Bill Crews AM
Sponsor: Omnilab Media, represented by Christopher Mapp, Managing Director
Presenter: Dick Smith AO

Health & Medicine: Dr Andrew Berry AM
Sponsor: Bupa, represented by Dr Stan Goldstein, Head of Clinical Advisory
Presenter: Dr Christine Bennett, Professor & Dean, School of Medicine Sydney, The University of Notre Dame Australia

Humanitarian: Susan Alberti AO
Sponsor: Meriton, represented by Peter Spira, General Manager
Presenter: Tony Hasham AM, Chairman of Life Education

Media: John Mangos
Sponsor: Air Canada, represented by Jeannie Foster, General Manager Australia & New Zealand
Presenter: Melissa Doyle

Sport: Layne Beachley, CEO of AIM
Sponsor: Channel 9, represented by Scott Soutar, Station Manager
Presenter: Ken Sutcliffe

Ted Noffs - Staff: Sandy Newson, Life Education Queensland

Bruce Gyngell – Volunteer: Max Boyd AM

School: Driver PS, Palmerston, NT.

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A huge thanks to our sponsors – Advanced Life Photography, Air Canada, Budget, Bupa, Channel 9,

Educational Experience, Meriton Group and Omnilab Media for supporting these awards.

Thank you also to the many companies who donated items for our auction and raffle

– your commitment to Life Education is much valued.

Thanks to the amazing work done by our Ocsober Legends in 2011, this year, Life Education and Healthy Harold have been able to travel to remote Northern Territory schools and reach children who, until now, have not been able to experience the Life Education program.  The following story was written by our Educator, Nicole Parry who talks about her first trip in the new 4X4 which was kindly donated by the Perpetual Philanthropic Society.

May 21st – and time for the maiden voyage of our new Nissan Nivara down the track to Minyerri.

Minyerri is a remote Aboriginal community located 270 kilometres south of Katherine and has a population of around 600, of which 180 are children.  I piled everything into the cab - bit squishy but excited to be on the road!

Harold and I hit the highway about 8:30 am and headed for Katherine, which took us about two and half hours and was a pretty smooth drive. Harold and I were pretty hungry by the time we rolled into Katherine so we stopped for lunch and to stock up on supplies.

Our next stop was Mataranka which is the last fuel stop on the way and a chance to ring Minyerri school to go over the directions one more time. They told me to look out for a sign on the Roper highway saying “Minyerri” I felt confident in getting there, how hard could it be?

The drive along the Roper Highway was a little more eventful. not only was it a narrow track with the locals driving towards you at warp speed but I also had to dodge horses, buffalo, kangaroos and snakes! When Harold and I took another break I got to look around and take in the surroundings. The terrain was beautiful and very different to other parts of the Territory (which I have lived in for 25 years).

I was thinking the turn off must be coming up soon, felt like I had been driving for ever… Unfortunately I had been driving for ever and ended up at Roper Bar, miles past the turn off I was meant to take!

I spoke to the lady at the Roper Bar shop and she assured me that I wasn’t alone and that everyone misses the turnoff. So armed with a new set of directions, off I headed in the direction I came.

Finally, after a long and interesting journey I got to Minyerri at 7pm and was absolutely exhausted!

The Minyerri people were very welcoming and took me straight to my accommodation, - an unused teacher’s house.

Over the next 3 days I would be seeing classes from preschool to year 9, I thought, it will be busy but I can do it. I set up in an unused classroom to teach the Life Education sessions. The children were so excited and called me Miss Harold!

It was time to head back to Darwin for two days at home and then off to Jabiru for a week, which was beautiful because the drive takes you through Kakadu.

After Jabiru I had 3 more trips to Katherine including delivering sessions to the gorgeous school of the air kids, who literally travel for hours for a week together in Katherine. Over 5 weeks Harold and I drove over 3,300 Kilometres, it was tiring but an amazing experience.

Nicole Parry
May 2012

August 17, 2012

Ocsober is back, and in 2012 it promises to be bigger and better than ever!

Since 2008, Life Education Australia have been running the Ocsober campaign where we ask adults across Australia to cut out alcohol for the month of October in order to raise money for our vital health and drug education to over 600,000 Australian children. These funds ensure that Life Education can continue to deliver our message in our Mobile Learning Centres with our Mascot Healthy Harold, which will help young Australians make safe and healthy choices for life. This year we hope to raise $750,000.

The message of Ocsober 2012 is Cut it Out and have Fun this Ocsober and will focus on the health and lifestyle benefits of a month off alcohol, such as feeling healthier, losing weight and having more time to enjoy with family and friends. To help us with this, we have enlisted some amazing ambassadors from the worlds of sport and entertainment including Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke, Nine Network Entertainment Editor Richard Wilkins, popular TV personality Natalie Gruzlewski and Dual-International Ellyse Perry (click here for a full list of the 2012 Ocsober Ambassadors) who will be providing our Ocsober Legends with advice, encouragement and support to help them on their Ocsober journey.

To find out more about Ocsober and sign up visit us at www.ocsober.com.au and you can help raise money by going Sober in October for our Kids.

The 5th annual Gold Harold Awards, named after Life Education's iconic mascot, Healthy Harold, will be held in Sydney on Wednesday  5 September 2012.

The prestigious awards are designed to honour achievements made by leading Australian individuals and organisations that have contributed to the health and wellbeing of Australia's children and young people.  A Gold Harold statue, a tribute to Life Education's 33 year old iconic mascot, is awarded to each category winner and is judged by an illustrious panel comprising Janine Allis, Angry Anderson AO, Dr Christine Bennett, Ita Buttrose AO OBE, Professor Jonathan Carapetis, Melissa Doyle, Mario Fenech, Prof Ian Frazer AC, Grahame Mapp AM,  Jeanne Pratt AC, Normie Rowe AM, Don Spencer OAM, Sigrid Thornton, Stuart Wagstaff AM, John Williamson AM, Dr Fiona Wood and Dr John Yu AC.

"Every year these Awards grow in prominence where we honour and celebrate the extraordinary achievements these remarkable individuals and organisations make to the betterment of Australia's children and young people. Our goal is to assist in developing a future generation of young Australians who are capable of making positive decisions about their health and wellbeing, and that sees them leading active and  fulfilling lives. We are proud to acknowledge the extraordinary work our nominees are doing is pursuit of the same goal" says David Ballhausen, CEO Life Education Australia.

The nominees for this year's awards are:

Corporate Award - Lend Lease, National Australia Bank, Rio Tinto, Toll Group

Education Award - Jack Manning Bancroft, Ellen Koshland, Professor Geoff Masters, Kathy Walker

Entertainment Award - Rebecca Gibney, Lee Kernaghan, Dr James Oswald Little AO (posthumously), Jack Thompson AM

Health & Medicine Award - Dr Andrew Berry AM, Professor Donna Cross, Dr John Irvine, Dr Deborah Lehmann AO

Humanitarian Award - Susan Alberti AO, Rev Tim Costello AO, Andrew Forrest, Dr Rhonda Galbally AO

Media Award - John Mangos, Sarah Murdoch, Jessica Rowe, Mikey Robins

Sport Award - Layne Beachley, Preston Campbell, Liz Ellis AM, Kevin Sheedy AM

Details of this year's awards are as follows:

Date:     Wednesday 5 September 2012

Venue: Four Seasons Hotel

Time:     6pm Cocktails; 7pm dinner and awards ceremony

Dress:   Black Tie

Cost:      $220 p/p; $2000 table of 10; $5,000 VIP table of 10

Contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 4841 1054

We acknowledge our sponsors of this year's awards: