Google Australia has today launched a new competition aimed at Australian schools.
The “Doodle 4 Google” initiative, being supported by Tourism Australia, is inviting school children across the country to design a themed Google logo inspired by the topic “My Australia”.
The winning student will have their doodle appear on the Google Australia homepage on Australia Day 2008 and win over $10,000 worth of technology equipment for his or her school.
The competition has been opened to students attending schools in Australia from Years 1 to 10.
“Schools can use the competition for students in Years 1 to 10 to express their creativity while considering what 'My Australia' means to them,” said Sharyn O'Neill, director general of the WA Department of Education and Training.
A judging panel will select the finalist doodles across four different year group brackets. The Australian public will then be asked to vote for the winning doodle in each bracket. The grand prize winner be selected at a gala national event by the original Google Doodler, Dennis Hwang.
The customisation of the Google logo started in 1999 by Google Webmaster Hwang, whose work is seen by millions every time he exhibits on the Google homepage. In Australia, the Google logo has been decorated for Anzac Day, Australia Day, Melbourne Cup Day and, in 2007 for the first time, NAIDOC Week.
