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LITTERARTY EXHBITION 2026
10-4pm Daily | 18 - 22 March 2026
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School students and holiday organisations will create and repurpose rubbish into prize-winning artworks! The finalists will be on display in an art exhibition at the Ocean Lovers Festival in March 2026.
WHERE: Yalagang Room - Bondi Pavilion
WHEN: 18th - 22nd March 2026
Discover how rubbish can be transformed into powerful works of art.
The Litterarty Waste-Art Exhibition features imaginative works created by school students and youth groups who have repurposed discarded materials into striking artworks that highlight the importance of caring for our ocean and environment.
Through sculpture, assemblage, collage, mixed media and other creative forms, these pieces reveal how the next generation is rethinking waste and turning it into meaningful artistic expression.
Come and explore this inspiring exhibition and see how young artists are transforming everyday rubbish into thought-provoking art that encourages us all to rethink our relationship with waste and the ocean.
2026 FINALISTS - PRIMARY SCHOOL
Shelly Belly Gives a Crap!
School: Christ the King Primary School, Bass Hill
Students/Group Name: The Ninja Turtles
Years 3 to 6
MESSAGE FOR THE OCEAN:
Sorry if we haven't been looking after you - for the plastic and throwing so much rubbish. We will try to be better in looking after you: one small action at a time- starting with raising the awareness around our school to minimise our own plastic packaging. We are hoping to live up to the slogan we created for the whole school initiative:
“Don’t be a part of the pollution, be a part of the solution”.
Students/Group Name: The Ninja Turtles
Years 3 to 6
MESSAGE FOR THE OCEAN:
Sorry if we haven't been looking after you - for the plastic and throwing so much rubbish. We will try to be better in looking after you: one small action at a time- starting with raising the awareness around our school to minimise our own plastic packaging. We are hoping to live up to the slogan we created for the whole school initiative:
“Don’t be a part of the pollution, be a part of the solution”.
Turtles are the treasures of the sea
School: St Christopher’s Catholic Primary School Holsworth
Art Extension Class
Years 5
MESSAGE FOR THE OCEAN: Through this piece, we hope to spark conversations about sustainability, conservation, and the role each of us plays in preserving the natural world.
Art Extension Class
Years 5
MESSAGE FOR THE OCEAN: Through this piece, we hope to spark conversations about sustainability, conservation, and the role each of us plays in preserving the natural world.
Sea of Second Chances
School: St Jerome's Catholic Primary School Punchbowl
Teacher: Rania Sarkis
Year 6
MESSAGE FOR THE OCEAN:
Recycling is not just a choice—it is a responsibility. Each bottle recycled, each bag refused, each effort to reduce waste is a small act of healing. If humanity embraced recycling as second nature, your waters could begin to clear. The turtles would swim freely again, the dolphins would leap without fear of entanglement, and the reefs could breathe life back into themselves. But time is running out. We cannot wait for tomorrow, for tomorrow may be too late. [...] Recycling is one step, but it is also a symbol of something greater: the recognition that our actions matter, that our choices ripple outward, and that healing you begins with healing ourselves
Teacher: Rania Sarkis
Year 6
MESSAGE FOR THE OCEAN:
Recycling is not just a choice—it is a responsibility. Each bottle recycled, each bag refused, each effort to reduce waste is a small act of healing. If humanity embraced recycling as second nature, your waters could begin to clear. The turtles would swim freely again, the dolphins would leap without fear of entanglement, and the reefs could breathe life back into themselves. But time is running out. We cannot wait for tomorrow, for tomorrow may be too late. [...] Recycling is one step, but it is also a symbol of something greater: the recognition that our actions matter, that our choices ripple outward, and that healing you begins with healing ourselves
Plastic sea
School: Sacred Heart Mosman
Students’ name: Gabrielle, Emily, Katie, Annelise
Year 4
MESSAGE FOR THE OCEAN:
Our project
Shows
The threat humans
Pose
By putting rubbish in the
Ocean
And causing a great
Commotion
For creatures like
These
Who pay such great
Fees
For simply
Living
And never
Giving
Humanity the things we really
Need
Our laws must come up to
Speed
We throw rubbish
In
To the ocean, not the
Bin
We then expect it to
Stay
Out of anything’s
Way
Our behaviour is
Devastating
A zero star
Rating
We need to
Stop
Before turtle numbers
Drop
Or we will face the consequence
Students’ name: Gabrielle, Emily, Katie, Annelise
Year 4
MESSAGE FOR THE OCEAN:
Our project
Shows
The threat humans
Pose
By putting rubbish in the
Ocean
And causing a great
Commotion
For creatures like
These
Who pay such great
Fees
For simply
Living
And never
Giving
Humanity the things we really
Need
Our laws must come up to
Speed
We throw rubbish
In
To the ocean, not the
Bin
We then expect it to
Stay
Out of anything’s
Way
Our behaviour is
Devastating
A zero star
Rating
We need to
Stop
Before turtle numbers
Drop
Or we will face the consequence
Save the sea, see the truth
School: Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School
Students’ name: Grace
Year 4
MESSAGE FOR THE OCEAN:
We all live on earth and we all share the same sea. We have a major problem it’s called polluting our waters. We have all been to the beach and seen at least one piece of plastic in the water.
My project has been built as a demonstration of how much plastic I have seen in the sea. It also shows how much sea life is affected by plastic in their lives. The sea is more polluted than you think 88% of the open ocean surface contains plastic and 13 or 14% of the world's oceans remain with no plastic. Octopuses and jellyfishes start living in the plastic because there is no room to live because of bleaching caused by all the plastic and litter we don’t put in the bin and litter we leave on the path.
So let’s start today and STOP littering so we can keep safe the incredible sea creatures from dying and our beautiful ocean turning in to a rubbish bin.
Students’ name: Grace
Year 4
MESSAGE FOR THE OCEAN:
We all live on earth and we all share the same sea. We have a major problem it’s called polluting our waters. We have all been to the beach and seen at least one piece of plastic in the water.
My project has been built as a demonstration of how much plastic I have seen in the sea. It also shows how much sea life is affected by plastic in their lives. The sea is more polluted than you think 88% of the open ocean surface contains plastic and 13 or 14% of the world's oceans remain with no plastic. Octopuses and jellyfishes start living in the plastic because there is no room to live because of bleaching caused by all the plastic and litter we don’t put in the bin and litter we leave on the path.
So let’s start today and STOP littering so we can keep safe the incredible sea creatures from dying and our beautiful ocean turning in to a rubbish bin.
Jelly in rubbish
School: Paddington Public School
Students’ name: James and Sophia Bragg:
Year 3
MESSAGE FOR THE OCEAN:
We worked together using the rubbish in our house. We made a jellyfish, but we wanted to focus on the terrible state of the ocean, and how the jellyfish easily can get confused for rubbish, and worse, tangled in rubbish. We want people to stop polluting the environment and to take responsibility for their rubbish.
We cannot live in filth,
So we cannot expect marine life to.
Students’ name: James and Sophia Bragg:
Year 3
MESSAGE FOR THE OCEAN:
We worked together using the rubbish in our house. We made a jellyfish, but we wanted to focus on the terrible state of the ocean, and how the jellyfish easily can get confused for rubbish, and worse, tangled in rubbish. We want people to stop polluting the environment and to take responsibility for their rubbish.
We cannot live in filth,
So we cannot expect marine life to.
Sea Garden
School: Paddington Public School
Students’ name: Penny Kuhn
Year 3
MESSAGE FOR THE OCEAN:
I love the way the ocean can look like parts of a garden, with the sea grass, the coral and the different rock formations. I thought that I would make a garden to show this. I used materials that were going to be rubbish. I have been folding these flowers a lot recently and am happy I was able to use them in a creative way to bring attention to the ocean. I believe we need to restore our sea grass to help restore ecosystems in the sea.
Like our gardens, the ocean is part of our home.
Care for it like you would your garden.
Students’ name: Penny Kuhn
Year 3
MESSAGE FOR THE OCEAN:
I love the way the ocean can look like parts of a garden, with the sea grass, the coral and the different rock formations. I thought that I would make a garden to show this. I used materials that were going to be rubbish. I have been folding these flowers a lot recently and am happy I was able to use them in a creative way to bring attention to the ocean. I believe we need to restore our sea grass to help restore ecosystems in the sea.
Like our gardens, the ocean is part of our home.
Care for it like you would your garden.
Whale be free
School: Paddington Public School
Students’ name: Thomas, Mio, Penelope, Lucas, Lillian, Luella
Year 1
MESSAGE FOR THE OCEAN:
Our Whale was made with rubbish from our Maker Space at our school. We chose to make our whale look like it was trapped in a net because we want people to stop leaving fishing nets in the ocean.
We want whales to be free to migrate in peace and without being endangered by humans.
It is important to protect the ocean and mother whales so that they can look after their calf whales.
Students’ name: Thomas, Mio, Penelope, Lucas, Lillian, Luella
Year 1
MESSAGE FOR THE OCEAN:
Our Whale was made with rubbish from our Maker Space at our school. We chose to make our whale look like it was trapped in a net because we want people to stop leaving fishing nets in the ocean.
We want whales to be free to migrate in peace and without being endangered by humans.
It is important to protect the ocean and mother whales so that they can look after their calf whales.
The oceans challenge, drowning in plastic
School: Sacred heart catholic school mosman
Students’ name: Eleni
Year 4
MESSAGE FOR THE OCEAN:
We all love to leap under the sea.
Snorkelling around coral observing sea life!
Animals cruise by us.
Definitely come with me to see the sea and learn the truth.
Saving sea isn't easy. It is not done in a blink of an eye.
Corals are dying due to climate change. So maybe riding bikes or using buses save fish.
Fish and other sea life usually get stuck in rubbish or think it is food and swallow it.
Students’ name: Eleni
Year 4
MESSAGE FOR THE OCEAN:
We all love to leap under the sea.
Snorkelling around coral observing sea life!
Animals cruise by us.
Definitely come with me to see the sea and learn the truth.
Saving sea isn't easy. It is not done in a blink of an eye.
Corals are dying due to climate change. So maybe riding bikes or using buses save fish.
Fish and other sea life usually get stuck in rubbish or think it is food and swallow it.
Littered platypus
School: Bondi Beach Public School
Students’ name: Chloe, Stella, and Sienna
Year 3
MESSAGE FOR THE OCEAN:
This art piece is made entirely of rubbish found around our neighbourhood. It is about the animals around Australia that are suffocating in all the litter we leave around. We need to be more careful with our rubbish, try to reduce waste by recycling more.
Students’ name: Chloe, Stella, and Sienna
Year 3
MESSAGE FOR THE OCEAN:
This art piece is made entirely of rubbish found around our neighbourhood. It is about the animals around Australia that are suffocating in all the litter we leave around. We need to be more careful with our rubbish, try to reduce waste by recycling more.
The Giant Octopus and The Ring of Fire
School: Paddington Public School
Students’ name: Fern
Year 3
MESSAGE FOR THE OCEAN:
“As the earth rotates on a degree,
I sleep silently at the bottom of the sea.
My home is the ring of fire,
It’s in the shape of a tire.
Bursting up lava and steam,
It never wakes me from my octopus dreams.
As I the giant octopus sleep at the bottom,
The ring of fire is my poem.”
Students’ name: Fern
Year 3
MESSAGE FOR THE OCEAN:
“As the earth rotates on a degree,
I sleep silently at the bottom of the sea.
My home is the ring of fire,
It’s in the shape of a tire.
Bursting up lava and steam,
It never wakes me from my octopus dreams.
As I the giant octopus sleep at the bottom,
The ring of fire is my poem.”
Second hand art
School: Paddington Public School
Students’ name: Mahla, Skye, Rose, Poppy
Year 3
MESSAGE FOR THE OCEAN:
We got our inspiration when we noticed our teacher at the end of the year, throwing all the art from the classroom in the bin. We rescued the art works and cut out shapes of ocean animals instead. This is how we formed our second-hand ocean. We had already used recycled materials to form the first round of artworks, so this ocean is definitely recycled!
We love the ocean, we love to look at it, we love to be near it and we love that we live near it.
We want to see it healthy for years to come as we grow up.
Students’ name: Mahla, Skye, Rose, Poppy
Year 3
MESSAGE FOR THE OCEAN:
We got our inspiration when we noticed our teacher at the end of the year, throwing all the art from the classroom in the bin. We rescued the art works and cut out shapes of ocean animals instead. This is how we formed our second-hand ocean. We had already used recycled materials to form the first round of artworks, so this ocean is definitely recycled!
We love the ocean, we love to look at it, we love to be near it and we love that we live near it.
We want to see it healthy for years to come as we grow up.
Crusty coral
School: Paddington Public School
Students’ name: Joanna
Year 6
MESSAGE FOR THE OCEAN:
I wanted my artwork to represent the effects that climate change has had on the ocean. Coral has been impacted world-wide and cannot grow or restore as it should. Coral is affected by bleaching too and many reefs are suffering as a result. On top of this reefs have to try to thrive through polluted water, and discarded fishing gear. We must take care of our oceans.
This is what happens to the ocean when people don’t take care of it.
I hope my artwork inspires you to care for what you love.
Students’ name: Joanna
Year 6
MESSAGE FOR THE OCEAN:
I wanted my artwork to represent the effects that climate change has had on the ocean. Coral has been impacted world-wide and cannot grow or restore as it should. Coral is affected by bleaching too and many reefs are suffering as a result. On top of this reefs have to try to thrive through polluted water, and discarded fishing gear. We must take care of our oceans.
This is what happens to the ocean when people don’t take care of it.
I hope my artwork inspires you to care for what you love.
Ancient Swimmers, Modern Threats
School: St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Como/Oyster Bay
Year 3 and Year 4
MESSAGE FOR THE OCEAN: Sea turtles wander ancient oceans, balancing life across reefs and seagrass meadows. They graze on seagrass and feed on jellyfish, helping maintain the delicate balance of marine ecosystems and allowing other life to thrive. Yet human pollution has brought them harm — plastic bags, bottles, and drifting waste entering the ocean through our carelessness. Mistaking plastic for food, turtles become entangled, poisoned, or starve, their strength fading because of the debris we leave behind. But the choice to change is ours: reduce waste, protect the ocean, and allow sea turtles — and the ecosystems they sustain — to survive.
Year 3 and Year 4
MESSAGE FOR THE OCEAN: Sea turtles wander ancient oceans, balancing life across reefs and seagrass meadows. They graze on seagrass and feed on jellyfish, helping maintain the delicate balance of marine ecosystems and allowing other life to thrive. Yet human pollution has brought them harm — plastic bags, bottles, and drifting waste entering the ocean through our carelessness. Mistaking plastic for food, turtles become entangled, poisoned, or starve, their strength fading because of the debris we leave behind. But the choice to change is ours: reduce waste, protect the ocean, and allow sea turtles — and the ecosystems they sustain — to survive.
A Vibrant Reef
School: Ballykin
Wombats preschool class
Years: Kindergarten
MESSAGE FOR THE OCEAN:
This vibrant 3D installation was created as part of our long-term investigation into coral bleaching and the question: Is our ocean broken? Using cardboard as a base, the children designed, painted, and textured coral forms with brushes and sponges, learning through hands- on exploration how coral reefs are affected by pollution, warming waters, and human impact.
This large-scale 3D installation was created over several months as part of our deep inquiry into ocean ecosystems, sustainability, and the impact of climate change. It explores the urgent and confronting reality of coral bleaching, where once vibrant reefs are turning white due to rising temperatures, pollution, and other human-induced pressures.
The children began by learning how and why coral is bleaching, exploring ocean zones, animal habitats, and the vital role coral plays in marine life.
Wombats preschool class
Years: Kindergarten
MESSAGE FOR THE OCEAN:
This vibrant 3D installation was created as part of our long-term investigation into coral bleaching and the question: Is our ocean broken? Using cardboard as a base, the children designed, painted, and textured coral forms with brushes and sponges, learning through hands- on exploration how coral reefs are affected by pollution, warming waters, and human impact.
This large-scale 3D installation was created over several months as part of our deep inquiry into ocean ecosystems, sustainability, and the impact of climate change. It explores the urgent and confronting reality of coral bleaching, where once vibrant reefs are turning white due to rising temperatures, pollution, and other human-induced pressures.
The children began by learning how and why coral is bleaching, exploring ocean zones, animal habitats, and the vital role coral plays in marine life.
Textile reef
School: Ballykin
Wombats
Years: Kindergarten
This piece was a class collaboration that spanned over a week. The children worked together to create a large-scale mixed-media piece that we called Textile Reef. Using fabric offcuts, netting, wool, ribbons, tiles, scrap and textured paper, cardboard and natural fibres, the children layered, twisted, and stitched their way through a vibrant representation of coral life. We experiment with weight, attachment, texture, and textiles. This striking sensory piece not only showcases their creativity and teamwork but also deepens their understanding of marine ecosystems and their environmental stewardship, which has grown over the year, and their innate passion for caring for and protecting their world.
Wombats
Years: Kindergarten
This piece was a class collaboration that spanned over a week. The children worked together to create a large-scale mixed-media piece that we called Textile Reef. Using fabric offcuts, netting, wool, ribbons, tiles, scrap and textured paper, cardboard and natural fibres, the children layered, twisted, and stitched their way through a vibrant representation of coral life. We experiment with weight, attachment, texture, and textiles. This striking sensory piece not only showcases their creativity and teamwork but also deepens their understanding of marine ecosystems and their environmental stewardship, which has grown over the year, and their innate passion for caring for and protecting their world.
Jellyfish
School: Mundaring Christian College
Students’ name: Naomi and Matilda
Year 5
MESSAGE FOR THE OCEAN:
People shouldn’t litter in the ocean because it hurts the animals and the environment. Also instead of throwing litter in the ocean, take it home and turn it into a masterpiece!”
Students’ name: Naomi and Matilda
Year 5
MESSAGE FOR THE OCEAN:
People shouldn’t litter in the ocean because it hurts the animals and the environment. Also instead of throwing litter in the ocean, take it home and turn it into a masterpiece!”
Jellyfish
School: Melaleuca Park Primary School
Students’ names: Joel and Patrick
Year 3
MESSAGE FOR THE OCEAN:
When on camp we collected rubbish at Eight mile Creek with Damien from the Landscape Board. Back at school we used the rubbish to create artwork. We made a jellyfish. We took the rubbish off the beach because fish and other animals can choke on it. Rubbish takes a long time to break down.
Our Jellyfish is made of foam rope and pop sticks. We stuck on the rope to the bottom of the foam and this was the Jellyfish’s tentacles. We stuck on the pop sticks to the top of the foam, this is the rubbish that the Jellyfish ate.
Students’ names: Joel and Patrick
Year 3
MESSAGE FOR THE OCEAN:
When on camp we collected rubbish at Eight mile Creek with Damien from the Landscape Board. Back at school we used the rubbish to create artwork. We made a jellyfish. We took the rubbish off the beach because fish and other animals can choke on it. Rubbish takes a long time to break down.
Our Jellyfish is made of foam rope and pop sticks. We stuck on the rope to the bottom of the foam and this was the Jellyfish’s tentacles. We stuck on the pop sticks to the top of the foam, this is the rubbish that the Jellyfish ate.
Turtle
School: Melaleuca Park Primary School
Students’ names: Harlie and Eeva
Year 3
MESSAGE FOR THE OCEAN:
We collected rubbish from the beach at eight-mile creek we took the rubbish because so no sea animal’s choke.
Made of all sorts of the beach things we used shells and a button and three nails pop sticks and glass.to with some rubbish.
Students’ names: Harlie and Eeva
Year 3
MESSAGE FOR THE OCEAN:
We collected rubbish from the beach at eight-mile creek we took the rubbish because so no sea animal’s choke.
Made of all sorts of the beach things we used shells and a button and three nails pop sticks and glass.to with some rubbish.
Silent SOS
School: Coffs Harbour Christian Community School
Group name: Ocean Heroes
Year 3, Year 4, Year 5
MESSAGE FOR THE OCEAN:
“When we see pictures of birds and sea animals suffering in silence, dead or injured because of single use plastics, we are devastated for them and for future generations. The animals cannot speak for themselves. We want to speak for them. But will the people who make the decisions listen? Maybe only when they realise the plastic problem affects them too. They need to know that the ocean is life. Not just because we enjoy the beach and waves here on the coast, but because we actually need it to survive. 50-70% of our oxygen comes from phytoplankton, those tiny ocean plants we can’t even see. That’s incredible but that’s not all. The ocean absorbs and transports heat around the globe to regulate our climate. It provides millions of people across the world with food and jobs. And to top it off, it houses and supports the majority of life here on Earth. An astounding 94% of the Earth’s species live in and around the ocean. We need the ocean. Now the ocean and all of creation needs us. We will keep speaking up until somebody listens.”
Group name: Ocean Heroes
Year 3, Year 4, Year 5
MESSAGE FOR THE OCEAN:
“When we see pictures of birds and sea animals suffering in silence, dead or injured because of single use plastics, we are devastated for them and for future generations. The animals cannot speak for themselves. We want to speak for them. But will the people who make the decisions listen? Maybe only when they realise the plastic problem affects them too. They need to know that the ocean is life. Not just because we enjoy the beach and waves here on the coast, but because we actually need it to survive. 50-70% of our oxygen comes from phytoplankton, those tiny ocean plants we can’t even see. That’s incredible but that’s not all. The ocean absorbs and transports heat around the globe to regulate our climate. It provides millions of people across the world with food and jobs. And to top it off, it houses and supports the majority of life here on Earth. An astounding 94% of the Earth’s species live in and around the ocean. We need the ocean. Now the ocean and all of creation needs us. We will keep speaking up until somebody listens.”
The Star of the Sea
School: Crown Street Public School
Group name: Environmental Warriors
Kindergarten, Year 1, Year 2, Year 3, Year 4, Year 5, Year 6
Group name: Environmental Warriors
Kindergarten, Year 1, Year 2, Year 3, Year 4, Year 5, Year 6
Seahorse
School: Mundaring Christian College
Students’ name: Clarissa Steencamp
Years: Year 5
MESSAGE FOR THE OCEAN:
"I really like your curly waves and to sit and watch out to as far as the eye can see.”
Students’ name: Clarissa Steencamp
Years: Year 5
MESSAGE FOR THE OCEAN:
"I really like your curly waves and to sit and watch out to as far as the eye can see.”
The Crab
School: Melaleuca Park Primary School
Students’ names: Zaya and Emily
Year 3
MESSAGE FOR THE OCEAN:
It’s a crab that has glass on it and it has a wooden stick in its hand, and it has nails in it and it’s eating a part of a Balloon. We got the rubbish from the beach cause people throw rubbish on the beach. And it’s bad for the sea animals they well die because they can’t eat rubbish Damien help us pick up the rubbish.
The crab we made is out of the ocean it has rope on it nails in it and it has plastic in it, and it has a hard shell, and it’s made of paper.
Students’ names: Zaya and Emily
Year 3
MESSAGE FOR THE OCEAN:
It’s a crab that has glass on it and it has a wooden stick in its hand, and it has nails in it and it’s eating a part of a Balloon. We got the rubbish from the beach cause people throw rubbish on the beach. And it’s bad for the sea animals they well die because they can’t eat rubbish Damien help us pick up the rubbish.
The crab we made is out of the ocean it has rope on it nails in it and it has plastic in it, and it has a hard shell, and it’s made of paper.
The Seabird
School: Melaleuca Park Primary School
Students’ names: Lilly and Ivory
Year 3
MESSAGE FOR THE OCEAN:
We collected the rubbish from the beach at Eight-mile creek. We put the rubbish in big bags. We did it because we wanted to save the animals. So then the animals don’t eat it and swallow it, then they might die because the plastic might choke them.
Our artwork is a fishing basket, with a nestles coffee lid. It also has a plastic container we found on the beach which is full of rope and glass that we collected. This is the birds head. It has a foam beak which we used from an ocean boy. We used hot glue to stick it together.
Students’ names: Lilly and Ivory
Year 3
MESSAGE FOR THE OCEAN:
We collected the rubbish from the beach at Eight-mile creek. We put the rubbish in big bags. We did it because we wanted to save the animals. So then the animals don’t eat it and swallow it, then they might die because the plastic might choke them.
Our artwork is a fishing basket, with a nestles coffee lid. It also has a plastic container we found on the beach which is full of rope and glass that we collected. This is the birds head. It has a foam beak which we used from an ocean boy. We used hot glue to stick it together.
Poor jellyfish
School: Melaleuca Park Primary School
Students’ name: Charli H.
Year 3
My artwork is made from pipe cleaners ,rope and plastic fishing net. I got it at the beach when I was on school camp. The reason I picked up the ocean rubbish is because I did not want animals to get hurt. They could get hurt if they swallowed it. My Jellyfish has eaten red plastic and alfoil and it is in its tummy.
I used rope and pipe cleaners for its tentacles and the fishing basket as its head and body. I stuck it together with hot glue and tape.
When people look at my artwork I want them to stop putting rubbish in the ocean and on the sand because animals get hurt by swallowing it and getting tangled.
Students’ name: Charli H.
Year 3
My artwork is made from pipe cleaners ,rope and plastic fishing net. I got it at the beach when I was on school camp. The reason I picked up the ocean rubbish is because I did not want animals to get hurt. They could get hurt if they swallowed it. My Jellyfish has eaten red plastic and alfoil and it is in its tummy.
I used rope and pipe cleaners for its tentacles and the fishing basket as its head and body. I stuck it together with hot glue and tape.
When people look at my artwork I want them to stop putting rubbish in the ocean and on the sand because animals get hurt by swallowing it and getting tangled.
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2026 FINALISTS - SECONDARY SCHOOL
The turtle
School: Whitebridge High School
Students’ name: Kelan, Dane, Nixon, Lenny
Years: 9
MESSAGE FOR THE OCEAN:
“ Turtle chokes on a piece of plastic and is in a net.”
Students’ name: Kelan, Dane, Nixon, Lenny
Years: 9
MESSAGE FOR THE OCEAN:
“ Turtle chokes on a piece of plastic and is in a net.”
Plastic Pollution
School: Whitebridge High School
Students’ name: Tia, Marlee, Alannah
Years: 9
MESSAGE FOR THE OCEAN:
“Don’t be bitter, don’t litter.”
Students’ name: Tia, Marlee, Alannah
Years: 9
MESSAGE FOR THE OCEAN:
“Don’t be bitter, don’t litter.”
Entangled Legacy
School: Whitebridge High School
Students’ name: Lucy Pope
Years: 9
MESSAGE FOR THE OCEAN:
Our ocean is a natural treasure. It supports diverse ecosystems and hundreds of thousands of unique species. However this awe inspiring environment is under siege. Plastic has taken over the pristine waters. Penetrating ecosystems and food chains. Human disregard for our planet has caused the suffocation of our sea. A legacy entangled by discarded trash.’
Students’ name: Lucy Pope
Years: 9
MESSAGE FOR THE OCEAN:
Our ocean is a natural treasure. It supports diverse ecosystems and hundreds of thousands of unique species. However this awe inspiring environment is under siege. Plastic has taken over the pristine waters. Penetrating ecosystems and food chains. Human disregard for our planet has caused the suffocation of our sea. A legacy entangled by discarded trash.’
The impact of plastic on turtles
School: Whitebridge High School
Students’ name: Charlotte H, Rhianna
Years: 9
MESSAGE FOR THE OCEAN:
“Pick up your rubbish. Littering affects marine life. Ghost nets kill marine life. Plastic straws may seem little but they can affect the whole ocean.”
Students’ name: Charlotte H, Rhianna
Years: 9
MESSAGE FOR THE OCEAN:
“Pick up your rubbish. Littering affects marine life. Ghost nets kill marine life. Plastic straws may seem little but they can affect the whole ocean.”
Jellyfish rubbish
School: Whitebridge High School
Students’ name: Charlotte G, Jada
Years: 9
MESSAGE FOR THE OCEAN:
“The message is other animals will mistake rubbish for food instead of jellyfish and will eat it, harming marine life.”
Students’ name: Charlotte G, Jada
Years: 9
MESSAGE FOR THE OCEAN:
“The message is other animals will mistake rubbish for food instead of jellyfish and will eat it, harming marine life.”
Beautiful Life Amongst Ocean Waste
School: Billabong High School
Students’ name: Mia Anschaw
Years: 12
MESSAGE FOR THE OCEAN:
“Our beautiful ocean, alive for millions and millions of years, thriving with beautiful beaches and life. I’m sorry you are hurting, us as people don’t deserve you. You are being filled with trash every day while we take out the stunning creatures that live inside you to eat or to ‘protect’ us. If one of us gets attacked by your sharks, they pay. We hunt them until we feel safe to enter again. I’m sorry ocean. I’m sorry people treat you like this.”
Students’ name: Mia Anschaw
Years: 12
MESSAGE FOR THE OCEAN:
“Our beautiful ocean, alive for millions and millions of years, thriving with beautiful beaches and life. I’m sorry you are hurting, us as people don’t deserve you. You are being filled with trash every day while we take out the stunning creatures that live inside you to eat or to ‘protect’ us. If one of us gets attacked by your sharks, they pay. We hunt them until we feel safe to enter again. I’m sorry ocean. I’m sorry people treat you like this.”
A turtles life based on our decisions
School: Picton Highschool
Students’ name: Alexis Moutos
Years: 10
MESSAGE FOR THE OCEAN:
“Dear ocean, you give us life, peace, beauty, and calmness. You have provided life through billions of years with oxygen, food, climate, biodiversity, and human livelihood. Part of the reason is that not only can I breath and speak today but the people reading this message, and the people who never will. I am eternally grateful for the joy you’ve brought us , but also excessively sorry for the pain gone through from rubbish due to us and our daily decisions. For the ocean, and for the next generation, I am hopeful that a collective effort can be formed through education and awareness to recover our seas for a better future. Protect our stories, lessons, and identity in which we have passed through generations.”
Students’ name: Alexis Moutos
Years: 10
MESSAGE FOR THE OCEAN:
“Dear ocean, you give us life, peace, beauty, and calmness. You have provided life through billions of years with oxygen, food, climate, biodiversity, and human livelihood. Part of the reason is that not only can I breath and speak today but the people reading this message, and the people who never will. I am eternally grateful for the joy you’ve brought us , but also excessively sorry for the pain gone through from rubbish due to us and our daily decisions. For the ocean, and for the next generation, I am hopeful that a collective effort can be formed through education and awareness to recover our seas for a better future. Protect our stories, lessons, and identity in which we have passed through generations.”
Plastic rubbish
School: Whitebridge High School
Students’ name: Claudia, Emily
Years: 9
MESSAGE FOR THE OCEAN:
“Our artwork is a piece about how plastic can harm the ocean,
environment and sea life. We added plastic to the ocean in the
artwork to symbolise the harm and destructive effects towards
sea life. We also made it out of bottle caps to create irony around
the idea of plastic being the root cause of marine harm.’”
Students’ name: Claudia, Emily
Years: 9
MESSAGE FOR THE OCEAN:
“Our artwork is a piece about how plastic can harm the ocean,
environment and sea life. We added plastic to the ocean in the
artwork to symbolise the harm and destructive effects towards
sea life. We also made it out of bottle caps to create irony around
the idea of plastic being the root cause of marine harm.’”
Go green: plastic is my killing scene
School: Billabong high school
Students’ name: Emma
Years: 9
MESSAGE FOR THE OCEAN:
“I hope to see more people aware of the impact our waste is having on the pre-historical animals. Making a change, save a turtle, so further generations get to see these beautiful creatures in the wild.”
Students’ name: Emma
Years: 9
MESSAGE FOR THE OCEAN:
“I hope to see more people aware of the impact our waste is having on the pre-historical animals. Making a change, save a turtle, so further generations get to see these beautiful creatures in the wild.”
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Anonymous, Teacher
'Amazing school expedition. The kids loved it. Thanks.'
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