Parkey Foundation aids underwater education
For several decades his name was synonymous with diving in Belize; and when he died last July the family of Hugh Parkey decided to honour his lifelong passion with the establishment of a foundation to promote undersea education. This weekend a fundraiser will be held featuring the work of some of the world’s best underwater photographers. Patrick Jones has more.
Patrick Jones, Reporting
The underwater world of Belize is as colourful and rich in diversity as the land surrounding it. And if the Hugh Parkey Foundation has anything to do with it, lots more Belizeans will get to take the plunge of exploration and understanding.
Theresa Parkey, President, Hugh Parkey Foundation
“Well I think what we’re hoping for is an appreciation for the ocean as a natural resource, Belize specifically–sometimes we underestimate how powerful the marine resource is for us–and then just walk away with an appreciation and a desire to take care of it and to preserve it.”
The Foundation is embarking on an ambitions programme to get school children interested in marine activities. Parkey says the idea is to show them the importance of the underwater world, by taking the message to the classroom using multi-media resources.
Theresa Parkey
“We have a DVD program that is specifically marine awareness, marine education, that will go into all the classrooms. Standard two is what we are looking at, primary school level. And then we are also incorporating field trips out to the cayes so that they can actually see the marine environment there, up close and personal.”
At a fund raising underwater film festival on Friday night, Parkey says the works of a number of photographers will be on display. Some of these same pieces are included on the DVD, which is currently in post-production in preparation for release to the schools later this year.
Theresa Parkey
“They’re going to see film clips by different underwater cinematographers and underwater photographers, some of them deal specifically with Belize. For instance one of the presenters, Mr. Clay Wiseman, is doing a piece that he filmed here in Belize earlier this year with children, a diving adventure, basically, an underwater adventure. One of the pieces is a Galapagos underwater adventure. There is Pauline Heaton, she is an Emmy Award winning cinematographer, she is going to be showing clips from different pieces that she’s done. And then we also have Marty Snyderman, who is world-renowned as well, doing work for National Geographic. He worked on numerous films as well. And then Rich Freshee, who’s been a friend of Belize for a very long time; and his will be a collage of still images that are put together in a multi-media format.”
Parkey says no exact amount of money is targeted for this weekend’s fund raising events. But whatever amount is raised will be another step in realising a project dedicated to the memory of a man who loved the sea.
Theresa Parkey
“Hugh had a love for the water. He loved to be in the water and every time he went diving, every time he was in the water, it was the best experience. And I think what we’re trying to do is, we’re trying to expose as many children and as many young people as we can to the underwater world with the hope, if we reach ten percent of them that want to make utilizing the sea their living, whether it’s as a scientist, whether it’s through tourism or whatever, we feel like we have accomplished a lot.”
Patrick Jones, for News 5.
Apart from Friday night’s Underwater Film Festival, a fund raising dinner will also take place on Saturday night at the Biltmore Plaza. If you would like to attend or contribute, please call Theresa Parkey at 614-2021.
