Busy day in Lakes Entrance

Today we visited Lakes Entrance, Victoria, to spread some good news.

Dr Kate receives copies of “Jimmy Four-Nicks the Burrunan Dolphin” from Lakes Entrance Primary School students

First we picked up Dr Kate Chalrton-Robb from the wharf and then headed off to Lakes Entrance Primary School. Dr Kate is the Founding Director and Principal Researcher from the Australian Marine Mammal Conservation Foundation.

Dr Kate was there to receive copies of the students’ book “Jimmy Four-Nicks the Burrunan Dolphin”, but she ended up providing a special surprise for the students. During her research of the Gippsland Lakes Burrunan dolphins, Dr Kate found that Jimmy Four-Nicks was actually a girl and she had a calf.

“I think we need to call her Jemima now”, she joked with the students. “The calf is about 6 weeks old and we don’t know if it is a male or female.”

Dr Kate has given the students the rare opportunity to name the baby dolphin. This is something that got them very excited with names bursting around the classroom. Year 3/4 teacher Laura Barton will brainstorm ideas with the students and report back the winning name to Dr Kate.

“It was great to hear that some of the students are keen to be scientists when they grow up after listening to Dr Kate,” said Peter Coleman, Enviro-Stories Coordinator.

To top this off, Jimmy Four-Nicks the Burrunan Dolphin book was just posted to the iTunes bookstore for download – something the school will be eager to get onto their iPads.

The day continues with a book launch at St Brendan’s Primary School. Year 5/6 students were also involved in the Love Our Lakes Enviro-Stories program and wrote their book about Lakes Entrance, why the students like living there and what there is to see and do. The resulting book “Loving Lakes Entrance” is a great promotion for the town.

Students from St Brendan’s School who wrote and illustrated “Loving Lakes Entrance”