Get ready kids ... Doodle 4 Google 2009 is here!

One of our favourite Google moments of 2007 was announcing the winner of our 'Doodle 4 Google - My Australia' competition. We were overwhelmed by the positive response from teachers around the country, who took the opportunity to ask their students what it meant to be Australian, and then depict that through art and design - and, of course, by the kids who created such vibrant and original works. Our winner, Janelle San Juan of the School of the Good Shepherd in Victoria had the thrill of seeing her Google doodle on the Google Australia home page on Australia Day last year.

The initiative was so much fun, and received such a great response ... that we're doing it all over again! Today we're super excited to announce Doodle 4 Google 2009. All Australian schools are warmly invited to take part in this project which offers young people the chance to have their artwork viewed not just by their teachers and classmates, but by millions of people all across the Internet.

Google doodles are the special "dressed-up" logos we run on our homepage for holidays and other events, and Doodle 4 Google is an opportunity for one Australian child to have his or her doodle displayed on our Australian homepage for one day in 2010 for everyone to see.

This year's theme is "My wish for Australia", and we really want to tap into not only children's creativity, but also what they hope the future of their country might look like.

Judging the initiative will be renowned artists Ken Done and Anne Geddes, and humanitarian Hugh Evans of the Global Poverty Project.

We kicked off Doodle 4 Google today at Melbourne City Council's ArtPlay centre, where an enthusiastic group of five and six year-olds helped us create a beautiful Google doodle to inspire other kids around the country to take part. The kids helped us draw their visions of Australia's future ... from sunshine and good friends to more trees and sea creatures. We were lucky enough to have Melbourne City Councillor Jennifer Kanis and judge Hugh Evans roll up their sleeves and join in the arty fun, alongside budding artists Van, Isobel and Anushka.






The competition is open to Years 1 - 10 students from registered schools. So teachers, if you want to participate, please register your school by 14 August 2009, and all doodles must be submitted by 4 September 2009. Visit the Doodle 4 Google website for a full listing of all contest rules and requirements. And kids ... get doodling!

Posted by Katharina Friedrich, Marketing Manager