Two Redlands College students took top honours on Friday in Wildlife Queensland Bayside short film competition known as the Cicada Awards.
Naomi Lewis won $1000 and first place for her efforts in demonstrating that if the world’s population lived as we do, we would need 3.6 earths instead of one.
The under 12 category was won by 11-year-old Daniel Eban who offered solutions on how humans may better manage magpie encounters.
He also won the ‘WoW’ Award, which included a copy of Roger Steen’s book Colours of the Reef for his school library.
Nine short films produced by students were shown during the Cicada Awards premiere screening on Friday evening at Cleveland District State High School.
The judging panel consisted of the principal of Moreton Bay Environmental Education Centre Di Aylward, journalist-photographer Peter Wear, cinematographer and founder of Ocean Ark Alliance David Hannan, last year’s first place winners Sadie Caynes-Henry and Lily Matheson and Wildlife Queensland Bayside president Steve Homewood.
Mr Homewood said the scores were very tight with only a couple of points between some of film-makers who placed.
“We’re pleased with the quality and diversity of the films and it should be noted that koala preservation remains close to the hearts of our youth with two films being screen on the predicament of local koalas,” he said.
Amelia Khoo achieved second place, while Emma Thean and Brighde Walker came third.
In the under 12 category, Lucy Rowell, Elly and Josie Rowell and Amy and Sam Weeden came second, while Noah and Abby Kubenk came third.