South Ayrshire Provost Helen Moonie, local Councillors, and Energy Agency representatives.
The latest innovative calendar designed by primary pupils to promote energy saving messages has been unveiled in South Ayrshire.
Nineteen gifted young artists were presented with awards at a special event in the County Hall in Ayr following the Energy Agency Calendar Competition 2013.
The annual competition is organised by the Energy Agency. Any South Ayrshire Council primary school pupil can enter and this year 594 entries were received from 26 schools.
The theme for the competition was 'Save Energy in the Home' and pupils were invited to create a piece of artwork that puts this message across in an artistic innovative way. To help inspire the children, staff from the Energy Agency delivered 87 energy saving lessons to 1,216 pupils across South Ayrshire.
Thirteen winners were chosen, one for each month of the year and one for the front cover of the calendar and six runners-up prizes are awarded.
The winners and runners-up each received a certificate and a goodie bag.
Hosting the awards ceremony for the first time South Ayrshire Provost Helen Moonie said: "The 2013 entries are some of the best ever.
"Our young people have a firm grasp of the importance of saving energy in the home, which will reduce fuel bills and help protect our environment. Their knowledge was reflected in their artwork, which was fantastic and really made me think about what I can do to further save energy at home.
"The 2013 Energy Agency calendar will be going up on a wall in my office next year, which means that everyone who visits my office will see it."
Liz Marquis, Director from the Energy Agency said: "Our partnership with South Ayrshire Council is hugely successful. Every year primary school children create incredible pieces of work as a result of the energy lesson.
"The interactive lessons cover energy efficiency, renewable energy and waste and are followed by a floor-size board game in advance of the calendar competition. The calendar provides a wonderful way to remind all of us to save energy all year round. "
This is what some of the children at the award ceremony had to say:
- Megan Russell P6F Kingcase Primary School − "I'm happy to be here helping to save the environment."
- Freya McIntosh P6M Kingcase Primary School − "It was playing the game that I learnt a lot about energy saving."
- Callum Ramage P6 Dalmilling Primary School − "We learnt a lot about energy efficiency at school and I am very happy with my prize."
- Amy White P6H Glenburn Primary School − "I had a really good day at the Award Ceremony and enjoyed myself."
- Emily Clark P7B Alloway Primary School − "I enjoyed drawing a picture that will help people do something about energy saving."
- Mark Dowey P7H Alloway Primary School − "It was very exciting watching all the entries on the screen."
- Jack Coston P7B Alloway Primary School − "I'm glad I was chosen to be a winner and I have learnt about saving energy for the future."
- Sophie Shearlaw P6 Maidens Primary School − "I'm very excited to be a winner for my school and delighted to come to this lovely building and meet the Provost."
Local Councillors presented certificates to children from their local area. Each Councillor was given a copy of the 2013 calendar.
The calendars will be available from many Council offices and through the Energy Agency later this year.