Farm safety calendar competition winners from Darling Downs and South West congratulated

Three kids from the Darling Downs and South West region are among twelve Queensland kids to be selected as winners of the 2023 Farm safety calendar competition.

Artwork by Riley Scheuerle from St Monica's Primary School Oakey, Isabelle Sheridan from St Maria Goretti School Inglewood and Briella Murphy from Kulpi State School have been chosen for the June, September and October pages of the calendar respectively.

Queenslanders can order the 2023 Farm safety calendar for free from the Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ) website.

Industrial Relations Minister Grace Grace said WSHQ was inundated with 1,500 entries from budding young artists this year.

"The Farm safety calendar competition is a great way to get kids from all over Queensland thinking about safety at home and in their classrooms," Ms Grace said.

"It gives primary school students the opportunity to help spread the word about how to stay safe on farms and rural properties, protecting our great lifestyle.

"Jobs in agriculture are great jobs that provide better services to Queenslanders, and we want to make sure the message is out there: be safe on farms.

"The standard of artwork over the years has been fantastic, and the latest edition of the calendar is no exception.

"The competition is a lot of fun, but the safety messages are serious. The agriculture industry employs around three per cent of Queensland workers but accounts for more than 30 per cent of workplace deaths.

"The 2023 calendar includes creative and colourful illustrations about electrical safety, animal safety, tractor and machinery safety, quad bike safety, water safety and general health and wellbeing.

"The 12 winners will each receive a $250 Visa gift voucher, plus another $500 for their school, with their artwork and safety messages featuring in the calendar."

30,000 free copies of the 2023 Farm safety calendar will be available for Queenslanders in October.

St Monica's Primary School Principal, Luke Barrett, said it was a wonderful opportunity for the school to be showcased in the Farm safety calendar thanks to Year 6 student Riley Scheuerle's winning entry.

"We are really proud of Riley and his achievement as he lives and breathes all things farming," Mr Barrett said.

"The prize money will be of great help to the school, and it will go towards classroom resources in the Media and Technologies curriculum."

St Maria Goretti School Principal, Casey Robinson, said the school community was proud of Year 4 student Isabelle Sheridan for the effort she put into her winning entry.

"It is very exciting for a student from our small rural school to be recognised as one of the Farm Safety Calendar winners in 2022," Mrs Robinson said.

"The prize money will benefit our small school greatly and we are planning to put it towards updating our sports equipment so that students can participate in a range of sports, including league tag, and basketball, at lunch time."

Kulpi State School Prep student Briella Murphy was recognised for her artwork reminding people to be properly trained in animal behaviour before working in stock yards.

You can order your free 2023 Farm safety calendar here and check out the winning artwork for each month here.

Winners of the 2023 Farm safety calendar competition: