The team at East Gippsland Water is very excited to announce the
winners of this year’s National Water Week poster competition.
Designed to inspire learning, creativity and action around water conservation, this year’s competition had the theme of ‘Water Heroes: Save Every Drop’.
Scores of entries were received from across East Gippsland.
National Water Week, which this year runs from 20-26 October, celebrates the vital role water plays in our lives, our communities and our future.
East Gippsland Water’s General Manager Customers, Community and Communications David Radford said the poster competition is a fun and engaging classroom activity that also helps students learn about the importance of water in their community.
“Water sustains our community across generations. It’s inspiring to see children learning about its vital role and growing into the environmental leaders of tomorrow,” Mr Radford said.
“We’re delighted to have been involved in the National Water Week Poster Competition since 2010. The competition encompasses 11 other water corporations across Victoria and is supported by the Victorian Government and the Australian Water Association.
“Every year, participating children always surprise us with their imagination and talent, and this year was no exception.
“We received stacks of fantastic entries from schools across the region, and it was a real challenge for our judging panel to select the winning posters.”
Winners of each category receive a $100 bookshop gift card and a professionally made, fully boxed 60-piece jigsaw of their artwork. Second-place winners are awarded a $50 gift card, with those in third place receiving a $25 gift card.
Winners and placegetters – Years 5-6
Winner: Rachel Salisbury – Swan Reach Primary School
Equal second place: Edith Wijsma – Swan Reach Primary School
Equal second place: Archie Brownlie – Mallacoota P-12 College
Third place: Karla Miller – Bairnsdale Primary School
Winners and placegetters – Years 1-2
Winner: Frankie Kutek – Swan Reach Primary School
Second place: Wren Kenny – Swan Reach Primary School
Third place: Felicity Pepperell – Swan Reach Primary School
Winners and placegetters – Years 3-4
Winner: Adeline De Freitas – Gippsland Grammar – Bairnsdale Campus
Second place: Eddie Kutek – Swan Reach Primary School
Third place: Maya Riley – Gippsland Grammar – Bairnsdale Campus
Mr Radford congratulated all the winners and placegetters, and he thanked all the children, schools and caregivers who “enthusiastically embraced this year’s competition”.
Schools with winners and/or placegetters will be contacted shortly by East Gippsland Water to arrange prize presentations
Artwork from winning entries will also feature in a 2026 wall calendar, available free from East Gippsland Water offices from the start of December.
Scroll down to see all the winning entries!
WINNERS
Above: Winner of Years 5-6 Category – Rachel Salisbury, Swan Reach Primary School.
Above: Winner of Years 3-4 Category – Adeline De Freitas, Gippsland Grammar, Bairnsdale Campus.
Above: Winner of Years 1-2 Category – Frankie Kutek, Swan Reach Primary School.
SECOND-PLACE WINNERS
Above: Equal Second Place Winner, Years 5-6 Category – Edith Wijsma, Swan Reach Primary School.
Above: Equal Second Place Winner, Years 5-6 – Archie Brownlie, Mallacoota P-12 College.
Above: Second Place Winner, Years 3-4 – Eddie Kutek, Swan Reach Primary School.
Above: Second Place Winner, Years 1-2 Category – Wren Kenny, Swan Reach Primary School.
THIRD-PLACE WINNERS
Above: Third Place Winner, Years 5-6 Category – Karla Miller, Bairnsdale Primary School.
Above: Third Place Winner, Years 3-4 Category – Maya Riley, Gippsland Grammar, Bairnsdale Campus.
Above: Third Place Winner, Years 1-2 Category – Felicity Pepperell, Swan Reach Primary School.
Congratulations to all the winners and thanks to everyone who participated in this year’s competition!