Australian Antarctic Arts Fellow and prize-winning Tasmanian author Coral Tulloch is spreading the word to children in Western Australia about why Antarctica is so important for our global future.

Ms Tulloch wrote and illustrated Scholastic Australia’s 'Scholastic News’ publication 'Antarctica'. The feature complements Ms Tulloch’s award-winning book 'Antarctica: Heart of the World' and coincides with her period as writer/artist in residence at the Fremantle Children's Literature Centre in Western Australia.

'Antarctica: Heart of the World’ won this year’s prestigious Wilderness Society’s Environment Award for Children’s Literature.

The main theme of Ms Tulloch’s exhibition at the Centre is the educational material and artwork created as a result of an Australian Antarctic Arts Fellowship she was awarded in 1998/1999. Her Fellowship allowed her to travel to Australia's Antarctic stations on board the research and resupply ship Aurora Australis.

Dr Sharman Stone, Parliamentary Secretary with responsibility for the Antarctic, said Ms Tulloch was a wonderful ambassador for spreading the word about Antarctica.

“As one of our most active former Fellows, Coral helps raise awareness of the uniqueness of Antarctica and the valuable work of the Australian Antarctic Division,” Dr Stone said.

“Her presence as writer/artist in residence at the Fremantle Children’s Literature Centre is a wonderful endorsement of her connection with young Australians and demonstrates the great respect in which she is held throughout the Australian school and arts community.”

Dr Stone said a collection of Antarctic memorabilia provided by the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) was also on display at the Fremantle Children’s Literature Centre.

“The AAD’s display captures the spirit of the great frozen continent and represents Australia’s pioneering and scientific presence there from early last century to the present and includes a fully-equipped field tent, ration packs, polar clothing, huskies and penguins,” Dr Stone said.

“It provides a great opportunity for children in one of the warmer states in the country to get a bit of a feel for what’s required to survive on the coldest, driest, windiest continent on Earth.”

Coral Tulloch’s exhibition will remain at the Centre until December and during that time will be seen by several thousand West Australian primary school students.

on