By Denise Deason
THERE is an urgent need for more “safety houses” for children attending Cambridge Primary School in Hoppers Crossing.
Safety House Secretary, Malynda Rowan, said when the program to provide safe refuge for children on the way to and from school started several years ago, there were about 50 homes signed up to provide the service.
Now it was down to 16 homes.
“More are needed,” she said.
“We’ve been losing members as people move away, while others perhaps don’t realise the program is still running.
“It’s so important for the children to know they have somewhere to go if they feel threatened in any way while walking to school.”
To help promote the Safety House program, the school held a Yellow Day, the colour that signifies the program, last week.
Wyndham City Mayor Shane Bourke and local police officers met the children and talked about safety issues.
The students, aged from six to 12 years, all wore something yellow, such as headbands, scarves and socks, to mark the day.
They’d also made an eight-metre long, one-and-a-half metre wide banner featuring the safety house logo and the handprints of the students – all 618 of them!
As the mother of four children, two of which, five and six-year-old daughters, attend Cambridge Primary School, Ms Rowan believes the program is vital.
“I can’t allow my children to walk to and from school if I’m not with them,” she said.
“You never know what’s lurking around the next corner.
“Many parents can’t go with their children due to their work, so the Safety House program is very important.
“We need more people to offer their homes to us so we can look after the children.”
