Luke – Zoos Victoria Young Advocate of the Year
Luke is one of the first graduates of the Shichida Primary School Program, and his journey is a wonderful example of how children can turn ideas into real action.
In September 2019, Luke was awarded Zoos Victoria Young Advocate of the Year, one of the prestigious Zoos Victoria Hall of Fame Awards.
Five awards are presented each year across different categories. Luke was nominated and selected as the winner in the Young Advocate category.
His name is now permanently displayed on the honours board across all three Zoos Victoria locations.
This is a remarkable achievement for a young person with a strong social conscience and a genuine love for animals.
We are incredibly proud of Luke and his determination to make a difference.
For more details about Luke’s achievement, you can read our earlier article here:
How It All Started at Shichida
Luke’s journey began during a Primary School Program class with Teacher Sonia.
During a lesson, students were asked what they would do if they had a superpower.
Luke said he wanted to help protect animals. That simple idea soon became the starting point of a real campaign.
Luke organised a petition to protect wildlife and encouraged others to support the cause.
This is a beautiful example of how Shichida education encourages children to:
- Think independently
- Care for others
- Take action
- Make a difference in the world
Luke in the Media
Luke’s passion for protecting animals gained attention in the media from an early age.
As a primary school student, Luke began collecting signatures to encourage the government to introduce clear palm oil labelling on products, helping consumers make informed choices and protect endangered orangutans.
You can read the article here:
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/east/luke-eaton-wants-to-save-the-orangutans-with-palm-oil-labelling/news-story/f68e55bda7ed5dd793830e24487e5b7f
His campaign showed strong initiative and commitment to making a positive impact in the world.
Working with Zoos Victoria
As part of his advocacy work, Luke worked together with Zoos Victoria to raise awareness and collect support for his petition.
Luke travelled to Canberra with Zoos Victoria and met with Members of Parliament to gain support for his cause.
He personally spoke with MPs and encouraged them to sign his petition, showing remarkable confidence and determination at a young age.
This experience demonstrated Luke’s commitment to protecting animals and making a real difference in the community.
Nov 2016, Luke and his parents visiting Canberra
Nov 2016, Luke getting the MPs to sign his petition
Presenting His Petition to the Government
Luke travelled to Canberra to present his petition to the Australian Government.
This was an extraordinary achievement for a young student and demonstrated courage, determination and leadership.
Video of Luke presenting his petition:
Encouraging Other Shichida Students
Luke also reached out to the Shichida community and encouraged students and families to support his petition.
His message inspired many families to participate and showed leadership beyond his years.
Video of Luke speaking to Shichida families:
A Proud Shichida Graduate
Luke represents what Shichida education aims to nurture:
- Compassion
- Initiative
- Leadership
- Responsibility
- Real world impact
- Balanced IQ and EQ
Stories like Luke’s remind us that Shichida education is not only about academic ability. It is also about raising children who care about their community and the word, with the skills to action ideas and solutions to real-world problems.
We are proud to have been part of Luke’s journey and look forward to seeing what he will achieve in the future.
