Summary

2007 calendar issued by Melbourne Water with each month illustrated by a primary school child responding to the theme of "Life - Just Add Water!" The primary schools involved in the 2007 calendar project were: Christmas Hills, Paton Hill, Hurstbridge and Yarra Glen.

The calendar also promotes the Winneke Treatment Plant, and provides information about the work of Melbourne Water and the Western Treatment Plant.

Physical Description

A4 'Silk Matt Paper', deemed to be environmentally friendly, multicoloured printing, bound with two staples with a single punched hole to enable hanging. Calendar is printed in the 'vertical' mode.

Significance

These items were collected during the Water Smart Home project and document the developing strategies used by the Victorian Government, water authorities, private industries and communities in confronting the emerging water crisis from 1995 to 2007. It captures the increasing urgency to address the growing imbalance between water supply and demand. It demonstrates a shift in government strategy away from an investment in major infrastructure to a campaign focused on behaviour change methods to reduce water consumption and secure Melbourne's water future.

An interesting feature of this material is the focus on gardening. Prior to water restrictions, Melbourne households used up to 50% of potable water for gardening - a significant focus of the public education campaign was therefore directed to this popular cultural activity and offered many ways to preserve this activity within the limits of Melbourne's water supply.

The Smart Water Fund was set up as part of the 'Our Water Our Future' campaign to support innovative water conservation projects, including Museum Victoria's Water Smart Home project. This material was collected as part of the Water Smart Home project. It shows how the 'Our Water Our Future' campaign infiltrated households in Melbourne, and documents the broader community messages and education strategies.

More Information