There’s still a week left to enter the Bacchus Marsh Platypus Alliance’s (BMPA) Platypus Next Door Competition, before winners are announced at a free movie night on December 1.
The Platypus Next Door competition asks Melton and Moorabool entrants to photograph themselves doing something to help local platypus, and send it to the BMPA before November 28.
There’s a number of prizes to be won, with the overall winner receiving a Platypus Encounter worth $300.
Ideas to help local platypus include preventing platypus from getting tangled, stopping platypus-harming chemicals from entering the river via stormwater drains, helping rainwater soak into the ground instead of running into drains and gutters and raising awareness about platypus in local waterways.
The winners of the competition, along with the names of three newly detected Werribee River platypuses, will be announced at a free movie night at the Bacchus Marsh Public Hall hosted by BMPA and Grow West.
On Friday, December 1, from 6.30 the announcements will be accompanied by the film The Platypus Guardian and footage of local platypuses, along with free popcorn, refreshments and door prizes.
BMPA President Dr Jodie Valpied said there are many parallels between the ABC documentary and the platypus situation in Bacchus Marsh.
“As well as being a fun night, we hope the films will inspire the local community to help look after our local platypuses,” she said.
Details: www.platypusalliance.org.au/comp or events.humanitix.com/platypus-movie-night
