By EMMA SUN
A CHARCOAL sketch by a Mount Evelyn Christian School student will be on display across town, after winning first place for this year’s Are You Fire Ready campaign.
The sketch by 13-year-old Keanu Porter features a koala on a tree surrounded by bushfire with flames reflecting in its eyes.
The poster competition marks the start of the education campaign which aims to remind residents not to be complacent about the fire season.
Are You Fire Ready? is run as a joint effort between the Mount Evelyn CFA, Mount Evelyn police, Mount Evelyn Neighbourhood Watch, Melba and the Mount Evelyn Township Improvement Committee.
Co-ordinator and Mount Evelyn Police Station Leading Senior Constable Lisa Brooks said the organisers decided to include all of the community in the campaign.
“Keanu’s charcoal/pencil sketch of a lone koala in a tree, surrounded by fire, is hauntingly beautiful,” she said.
“It is a touching picture that is sure to attract attention and help to push home our fire ready message.”
Keanu will receive $50 as part of his prize.
He said he was very happy to win the competition.
“I feel pretty good, I was surprised,” he said.
“I do a lot of drawing, I love art and I am proud to have won.”
MECS principal Paul Oldman said the school was also very proud of Keanu.
“He’s done a fabulous job, he’s a very talented student and we’re really pleased with him that he’s won this competition,” he said.
Residents can get free Are You Fire Ready showbags at this year’s street party on 26 October.
This year’s showbags are full of fire awareness information including a self-published magazine, Surviving Wildfire, written by Kinglake survivor Andrew Berry.
“His very personal story gives some practical advice about sprinkler systems and gives us yet another tool to better prepare ourselves for the upcoming fire season,” Sen Const Brooks said.
“Andrew lost his house in the Kinglake fire but his and his family’s lives were saved with his sprinkler system playing a very large part in this.
“Andrew published this magazine himself with the thought that saving even one life in the future would make it all worth the time and money.
“Our campaign this year is again all about informing and educating our local community about our bushfire prone area.”
