PRESS RELEASE – SPREADING THE RECYCLING MESSAGE THROUGH MULTIMEDIA

5^th June 1997

In an exciting CD ROM adventure, a cool kid named Ollie will set a recycling challenge across computer screens in all Victorian primary schools.

All Victorian primary school children will be able to access the very latest in CD ROM technology and learn about the importance of recycling when Ollie Recycles is launched at the Megabite Internet café, 176 Wellington Parade, East Melbourne on Thursday 6^th June 1997.

Ollie Recycles is an interactive CD ROM sponsored Visy Recycling, EcoRecycle and the Beverage Industry Environment Council which will be distributed free to all Victorian primary schools throughout June.

"Supplying Ollie Recycles to schools is an unprecedented initiative in education both from an economic and technical viewpoint.  Ollie is going to revolutionise education in primary schools," according to John O'Shea the Executive Producer of the Program.

"We believe that every Victorian school child should recognise the value of recycling, and this is something we can do through providing this CD ROM technology. By supplying Ollie Recycles free to schools Visy Recycling, EcoRecycle and the Beverage Industry Environment Council have harnessed a new frontier in learning methods to a very important social issue."

While the project brings together parties keen to promote the importance of reducing, re-using and recycling waste, the overall educational integrity of the CD ROM has been assured through curriculum consultants and input from experienced classroom teachers.

"While the message and medium of Ollie Recycles is very strong, we also believe that to succeed in schools the message to children should have a curriculum base and add value to the learning process for students and teachers alike" said O'Shea.

"With the importance placed on the level of learning through Ollie Recycles it is particularly pleasing to have the endorsement of the Victorian Primary Principal's Association."

Using the most up to date interactive technology, Ollie Recycles teaches simple hands-on recycling activities which can be implemented at school and at home. It also informs teachers about the range of other educational resources available for waste and litter education.

Ollie encourages children to investigate technology further through exploring an internet link to Ollie's own web site.  In this internet environment, schools, teachers and students can take part in a range of exciting games relating to Ollie and his environmental activities.

Given the impressive medium and strong message of Ollie Recycles, Ollie is bound to become a popular character around the playgrounds of Victoria.