MORE than a dozen Riverina writers will have their books kept on record at Australia's National Library.
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This is no mean feat - and to top it off the oldest is 12 and they are all in primary school.
Students from Yerong Creek, Ladysmith and Kapooka public schools gathered at host school Uranquinty Public school yesterday, to unveil their four, separate books.
Fresh from the press, the bound books were written entirely by students, detailing life in rural areas.
Each group of students had to find "everyday heros", interview them, take photographs, in some cases do illustrations, and put it all together in a coherent, readable format.
Uranquinty Public School principal Cathy Crick praised the Murray Darling Association, Wirraminna Environmental Education Centre and Riverina Local Land Services for funding the initiative.
"It taught them good technology skills, they had to create interview questions and put it into some sensical order," she said, summing up the project.
She said each school would receive a copy of the four books and they would be put into the reading tub for younger students.
Uranquinty Public School year six student Hannah Billet enjoyed putting her penmanship to test.
"It was definitely a learning experience - going to the farm and interviewing the farmers," she said.
Keen to follow an agricultural-based career path, Hannah was excited to learn about the different careers available in the industry.
Yerong Creek students spoke to farmer Kellie Noske, who is running a farm by herself while her husband trains to be a pilot.
"It's wonderful for them (the students) to see what people do every day and it's a great initiative," she told students.
Project officer Stacee Staunton enjoyed seeing the kids develop a connection with their community during the project.
"They can share it with people from all different areas," she said.
Riverina Local Land Service chairman Sam Archer said it was exciting to be funding such an innovative and creative project.
"We want the primary students to appreciate that communities, local businesses, farms and agricultural health in the Riverina region are all linked and dependent on each other," she said.
"A key feature of the program was to give primary students opportunities to learn and write about someone in the local community who has made an important contribution to the health of the environment."
The books can be read online at http://www.envirostories.com.au.
BREAKOUT:
Published authors:
Kapooka Public School
Book: Jim Pratley's Life in Agriculture
Authors: Lily Watkins, Victoria Kean, Ashley Gardiner and Cassie Baker
Yerong Creek Public School
Books Kellie Noske: Lady of the Land
Authors: Jack Driscoll, Rosie Yates, Royce Hunter, Sophie Galvin, April Kennedy and Craig Fitzgerald
Uranquinty Public School
Book: Farmers of Uranquinty
Authors: Ben Lewington, Hannah Billett and Jasper Howie
Ladysmith Public School
Book: Moovin' Milk
Authors: Kieran Eady, Jake Eady and Cameron McDougall
