Earth Verse.
Haiku from the Ground Up
By Sally M. Walker
A stunning combination of haiku and impressionistic but accurate art encourages readers to think playfully about our planet and its wondrous processes.
National Water Week poster competition 2026
Calling all creative kids, classrooms and budding artists — it’s time to unleash your inner Water Hero!
We’re inviting preschools, primary schools and individual young artists across our region to take part in the 2026 National Water Week poster competition. This year’s theme is Water Heroes Make Every Drop Count, and we can’t wait to see your imaginative, colourful and inspiring creations.
The competition opens Tuesday 21 April, and we’re asking junior artists to design and upload a poster that celebrates this year’s theme. Entries close 5pm, Friday 11 September, so get those pencils, paints and ideas flowing. Winners will be announced during National Water Week (Monday 19 – Sunday 25 October).
Contact Us
Got questions? Our Education & Events team is here to help. Email: communications@coliban.com.au
Educator’s guide and activities: Inspire your students to become water heroes
To help introduce this year’s National Water Week theme to children/students, we’ve created an Educator’s Guide. Designed to support learning in both early childhood and primary classrooms, this resource includes background information, discussion prompts, and activity ideas — all aligned with the 2026 theme, Water Heroes Make Every Drop Count.
Whether you're kicking off a water unit or supporting students in creating their posters, these resources will make it easy to bring the message of water conservation into your classroom in a fun, engaging and meaningful way.
Tips for uploading a poster
- Poster size must be A4 or A3
- Please ensure only high-resolution, high-quality images are submitted.
- Image files should be in .JPG or .PNG formats.
- Uploaded files are limited to 20MB.
- Original posters can either be scanned or photographed.
- Please contact us if you would prefer to send hard copies into our office: communications@coliban.com.au
- If taking a photo, please ensure the image is clear and not blurred. Think about:
- Good lighting.
- Ensuring the poster fills the entire screen. An overhead shot is often best as you are standing above the poster, looking down.
- Avoid using your flash as it makes a glary photo.
Judging
Winners will be chosen using the following criteria:
- How well your poster reflects this year’s theme, 'Water Heroes Make Every Drop Count'
- Whether the poster uses innovative imagery, design or concepts.
- Whether art materials have been used effectively.
- How attractive it looks from a distance.
Prizes up for grabs!
Early Learning / Kindergarten
(Individual and collaborative entries welcome)
- 1st place: A themed book (water, sustainability or culture), art gift set, framed copy of your poster + Coliban Water merch
- 2nd place: Art gift set, framed poster + Coliban Water merch
- 3rd place: Framed poster + Coliban Water merch
Primary School
(Individual entries only)
- 1st place: A themed book, art gift set, framed poster + Coliban Water merch
- 2nd place: Art gift set, framed poster + Coliban Water merch
- 3rd place: Framed poster + Coliban Water merch
Bonus! - All 1st place winners go on to the state competition, where you could win up to $100 of Dymocks Gift Vouchers.
PLUS! School Prize Draw
Every preschool or primary school that enters goes into the draw to win $250 toward a sustainability project and feature in our 2027 National Water Week Poster Competition promotional video.
Contact
If you have any questions, please contact Katherine Meerman
Email: communications@coliban.com.au
Book Resources
To help celebrate National Water Week in classrooms across our region, we've curated a selection of our favourite water-themed picture books.
With beautiful illustrations and stories, these books are sure to inspire and help children understand the natural water cycle and the importance of water in all its forms.
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The Rhythm Of The Rain
By Grahame Baker-SmithFrom tiniest raindrop to deepest ocean, this breathtaking celebration of the water cycle captures the remarkable movement of water across the earth in all its majesty. A stunning new non-fiction picture book from Greenaway medal-winner, Grahame Baker-Smith.
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Wilam: A Birrarung Story
By Aunty Joy and Andrew KellyAs ngua rises, Bunjil soars over mountain ash, flying higher and higher as the wind warms. Below, Birrarung begins its long winding path down to palem warreen.
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Water Is Water
By Miranda PaulThis spare, poetic picture book follows a group of kids as they move through all the different phases of the water cycle. From rain to fog to snow to mist, talented author Miranda Paul and the always remarkable Jason Chin combine to create a beautiful and informative journey in this innovative nonfiction picture book that will leave you thirsty for more.
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When water lost her way
By Meg HumphreysLost in her ever-changing forms, 'Water' questions who she is after an encounter with a creature in an underground cave. Water seeks all parts of her cycle for answers, which makes her feel overwhelmed and confused. However, 'an old' tree helps her to understand her place in the world and her many interconnections with all living and non-living things.
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You and Me Murrawee
By Kerri HashimiIn this lyrical, beautifully observed story, a young girl camps by the river with her family. Through her eyes, we see life as it would have been two hundred years ago.
Murrawee is friend and guide as we experience the rhythms of one day and become strikingly aware of what can be gained, simply by listening and sharing.
Video Resources
We’ve chosen a range of videos suitable for use in a learning environment. They'll help kids increase their comprehension of water and will provide inspiration to further develop our junior water heroes!
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The Rhythm Of The Rain (Read Aloud)
In this video, Lissie reads The Rhythm Of The Rain, by Graheme Baker-Smith, the breathtaking story celebrating the water cycle and the remarkable movement of water across the earth in all its majesty.
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Every Little Drop!
Every little drop....winner of the international Songwriting Competition for best children's song, performed by dirtgirl form dirtgirlworld.
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Water Cycle Yoga
In this video, children are invited to go on a yoga adventure with Victoria and the water cycle. An opportunity for children to shake out their sillies, get their Zen on, and learn about the water cycle.
