School children around Bundaberg have joined forces with an award-winning Australian children’s author to pen ‘Too Bright Tonight’, a fun illustrated book that highlights the importance of light conservation around turtle rookeries, especially those on the Southern Great Barrier Reef.

The book has been released to celebrate the return of Bundaberg’s most famous visitors, the endangered loggerhead turtles who nest at Mon Repos beach. The project, financed by Bundaberg shopping centre Hinkler Central, teamed award winning writer Emma Mactaggart with local children as part of the Cut The Glow conservation efforts of the Queensland Parks and Wildlife, with all proceeds going to the Mon Repos Turtle Centre and Save the Loggerhead.

The project involved a workshop series, with school children creating artwork and a story that celebrates conservation efforts of the Bundaberg community to support the annual turtle migration. The work was then adapted into a professionally printed book by children’s author Mactaggart, who has previously created picture books for the Condamine Alliance and The Melanoma Awareness Foundation.

Hinkler Central Centre Manager Renee Pukallus said the Centre was pleased to support the important work done by the Mon Repos Turtle Centre.

“The book, Too Bright Tonight, was delivered in partnership with children from schools across the Bundaberg region, to help raise awareness of human activities that threaten the survival of turtle species,” Ms Pukallus said.

“By capturing the enthusiasm of young people in the community, the aim of this book is to provide tangible support for organisations responsible for environmental stewardship and protection of the very special turtles who regularly return to our shores.

“We’re proud to be doing our part to support this ongoing conservation work, and contributing to a program that is important to our Hinkler Central community.”

Bundaberg North Burnett Tourism General Manager, Katherine Reid, said “We are very proud to expand our support of the Mon Repos Turtle Encounter to include being an outlet for ‘Too Bright Tonight’. “The loggerhead turtles sit at the heart of our community, and respectful tourism is a key way to educate consumers on conservation. In 2016/17, over 25,000 visitors took part in the Mon Repos Turtle Encounter alongside over 5,000 locals. We are already seeing strong numbers for the 2017/18 season – potentially another 30,000 people to learn about the turtles and about how we play an important role in their survival.”

“As the peak tourism organisation for the region, BNBT manages the ticket sales for Mon Repos on behalf of the Queensland Parks and Wildlife, as well as running a considerable destination marketing campaign to encourage visitors to experience the turtle encounter and learn more about the loggerhead turtles every summer.

The book can be purchased for just $14.95 from Hinkler Central, from the Mon Repos Turtle Centre, and from the Bundaberg Region Visitor Information Centres, located in Bundaberg, Childers and Gin Gin.

For further details please contact

Katherine Reid, Bundaberg North Burnett Tourism
P 07 4153 8888 M 0429 681 770 E This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Kaitlyn Harnell, Marketing Manager, Hinkler Central
P 07 4111 1604 M 0498 006 264 E This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.