Tide fails to wash away mass public spirit

MORE than 1000 Portland schoolchildren and residents spelled out a large-scale 'renewable' message when they congregated on Nun's Beach yesterday.The Portland Sustainability Group organised the human sign to promote Portland's potential for renewable energy. Group convener Peter Reefman said that Portland was the only one of 30 planned human signs that was able to be formed after wet weather washed out other groups across the state."We were concerned that our sign wouldn't go ahead. We had to move because of the high tide," Mr Reefman said.Portland South Primary School principal Marg Millard said that the children's involvement in the human sign reinforced their studies about the environment."Our school is heavily involved in sustainability education. Events such as today get the biodiversity message across to the kids," Ms Millard said.All Saints Primary School grade five pupil Grace Atchison said she enjoyed the day out at the beach. "We were very lucky to be part of the sign," she said. The project needed 450 people and organisers were surprised 1050 answered the call. Mr Reefman said the fact that all of the district's schools participated was testament to Portland's community spirit. Other signs planned across the state included only individual schools."We are lucky enough in Portland to have very receptive school principals that are engaged in the community and projects such as ours," Mr Reefman said.Portland, Bayview, Bolwarra, Balmoral, Portland North, All Saints, St John's Lutheran, Narrawong, Portland South, Heywood Secondary and Bundarra schools also took part in the event.