MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Gallus
Queensland school children will today host Brisbane based Commonwealth gold
medallist and Athens golden hopeful Geoff Huegill, as part of AusAID's
Making Every Drop Count water education campaign.
The Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Mrs Chris Gallus, and
Australian swimming champion, Geoff Huegill, will visit Bulimba State School to
participate in the International Year of Fresh Water activity.
Mrs Gallus said the campaign will educate more than 16,000 students about
Australians helping people in developing countries gain improved access to
clean, fresh water.
'Students are learning that Australians are changing the lives of some
of the one billion people around the world who do not have access to safe
water,' Mrs Gallus said.
'Millions of people living in poverty will have better sanitation,
thanks to Australia's overseas aid program.
'Every day 10,000 people die of preventable water diseases and most of
them are young children.
'Access to clean, fresh water is a major problem for many developing
countries and Australia is committed to helping our neighbours improve their
access to clean water, and reducing poverty,' Mrs Gallus said.
Geoff Huegill will talk to students about his recent visit to Vietnam to
support AusAID projects in the Mekong Delta.
'Water is obviously a major part of my life. Water management is a big
issue for Australia, and has resulted in Australians developing specialist
expertise and being well-placed to advise and work alongside other nations in
managing their water resources,' Geoff Huegill said.
Geoff met with a number of aid workers from Brisbane in southern Vietnam who
are improving the health of the poor by helping with water management,
sanitation drainage and solid waste management.
'When I visited Vietnam it was great to see fellow Australians doing
such a fantastic job helping people in other countries gain access to fresh,
clean water - something we can take for granted.
'I believe the work that's being done to help people less well off
than us is very important and something all Australians should be proud
about,' said Geoff Heugill.
Media contacts:
Shane Fairlie (Mrs Gallus's office) 0408 680 442
Alex Dillon (Program coordinator) 0417 757 217