Elijah Richardson, a Bundaberg nine-year-old boy, is passionate about the natural world and has been named a CoralWatch ambassador in 2022.
It is the first time CoralWatch gives a position for a child and Elijah feels honoured to do his part to protect the environment.
The beginning 2022 has already been an incredible year for the Year 4 St Josephs student, who was the only child to attend CoralWatchs five days workshop on Heron Island.
He received a handwritten letter from Sir David Attenborough, just days before.
Elijah said that when I grow up, I want to be a documentarist just like David Attenborough. I also want to teach people about the natural environment.
I wrote to him, but I didn’t expect to get a reply. But he did, with a handwritten note expressing his best wishes.
Elijah stated that becoming a Coral Watch Ambassador allowed him to spread the message further. He was thrilled to speak at Brisbane’s World Science Festival in March on behalf of CoralWatch and to talk to the public about Great Barrier Reef.
Elijah is not the only one who has taken a stand to stop environmental pollution.
The eco warrior was instrumental last year in getting Billie Eilish, American pop star, to use her hit song Ocean Eyes in the CoralWatch cause to save the Great Barrier Reef.
Billie Eilish’s Ocean Eyes song will help Elijahs CoralWatch campaign shed more light on the organizations research and reef conservation work which they have been carrying out since 2002.
Elijah now has a goal to recruit some of Hollywood’s most prominent voices, including Kit Harrington and Robert De Niro, in his campaign for the Great Barrier Reef.
Elijah was proud to be born in Bundaberg. He believes it is important that we take care of our local environment but also understands that pollution is a global problem.
Elijah exclaimed, “This is 100 percent what I want to accomplish.”
We need these big voices to get on board to help CoralWatch make more people aware of the need to protect the Great Barrier Reef.”
Elijah, who is also Tangaroa Blue ambassador for the Great Barrier Reef, stated that microplastic found along the Great Barrier Reef coastline (including Bundaberg’s beaches) had not only been produced in the local area but also came from other countries.
He believes it is important to spread the message worldwide.
Elijah stated that there are many things you can do at your home to reduce plastic use, even if it is not near the beach.
To help the Great Barrier Reef be protected, CoralWatchIt has many great tips that you can follow on its website. If you apply those tips in the end, it will make a big difference.
Next month Elijah, his mum Kerry, invite the community to Clean Up Australia Day at Burnett Heads.
Kerry stated that there are many great initiatives to improve the environment in this region.
We clean the beaches and collect trash a couple of times per week as a family.
You can fill a jar with microplastic, and get a book voucher at Book Boutique.
For more information on Elijahs Clean Up Australia Day Click here.