29 March 2019

This is an extract of an article that was originally published on the Yarra City Council website on Monday 21 January 2019.

As the vice-captain of the Academy of Mary Immaculate, Fitzroy, Christa Hubik, 17, is using her leadership and passion for the environment to encourage fellow students and people in her community to care for our planet’s future.

In 2016, Christa, along with two other students, wrote a pitch to her principal to create a student group focused on protecting the planet called Earth at Academy.

‘I’ve always felt a strong connection to nature. My mum has been a horticulturalist for almost 20 years – I’ve always grown up with an incredible garden at home and an appreciation for all living things.’

The student group launched in 2017 and has since attracted around 30 student members. It has worked on a number of different projects including Earth at Academy Hour, where for one hour per term, all lights, heating and air-conditioning are turned off across the campus to save electricity.

The group has also put recycling bins and scrap-paper boxes in classrooms, and created Academy-branded reusable coffee cups and water bottles.

Christa is the administrator of Instagram account @174metres, where she shows her followers how much rubbish she can collect in the 174 metres between her home and the tram stop. She also attended the School Strike 4 Climate Action at Parliament House in November last year.

This year Christa is planning to introduce a soft plastics recycling program at her school.

‘I feel privileged to be in a position where I can be a voice on this topic. I am passionate about our planet’s future and feel I have an obligation to lift up the people whose voices might be lost.’