Students overturn backyard egg law

In May 2005, Safe Food Queensland announced new government regulations that would make it illegal to sell backyard eggs.

The students had planned to build their own chicken coop to supply organic eggs to the school canteen for lunches, so they took matters into their own hands.

“We went into battle against the bureaucrats in a quest for common sense,” Year 7 student James Gough said.

“If anyone wished to sell eggs they would have to pay a fee of $421.25 a year to meet government requirements; they must have thought everyone was as rich as Bill Gates,” James said.

Students undertook a range of activities in protest of the law. They sent letters to local newspapers and local politicians, bringing the issue to the community’s attention.

Then they appealed directly to Food Safe Minister Kerry Bell. A skinned chicken with a noose around its neck met Mr Bell when he visited the school. James and his fellow students dressed as chickens, shouted slogans and fed the minister egg tarts and sandwiches for lunch.

Food Safe Queensland finally cracked under the pressure, revising its plans following the Hermit Park State School visit.

The Hermit Park State School students won the Minister for Education’s Young Legends Award for their part in overturning the law.

Now, the school’s chooks lay up to six eggs a day, which are used to make egg sandwiches in the canteen.