By Belinda Nolan
FOR Elaine George and Teresita Tena, keeping Brimbank’s streets safe is all in a day’s work.
The lollipop ladies brave the heat, wind and rain to help hundreds of children cross the road safely every day.
The dynamic duo can be seen in their trade mark white and orange uniforms patrolling crossings at schools across Brimbank.
Ms George is one of the municipality’s longest-serving school crossing supervisors, having worn the safety vest for more than 25 years.
The West Sunshine resident began her career as a lollipop lady at St Peters Primary when her children began at the school in November 1983.
Although her children have long since left, Ms George has remained at the school through a sheer love of the job.
And at 69, she shows no signs of slowing down.
“I love the social part of the job the most,” she said.
“I’ve helped hundreds of students cross the road since I started and it always makes me smile when I see grown ups that used to go to the school come back with their kids.
“Everyone knows me and I love it when they come up and talk to me.
“It makes it the best job in the world.”
Although Ms Tena has only been a lollipop lady for seven months, she has already begun recouping the rewards.
The Albanvale resident said she decided to become a crossing supervisor because she wanted to rejoin the workforce.
“I supervise about 140 students and I find it very rewarding,” Ms Tena said.
“I enjoy having a conversation with the students and I love it when they say thank you when they get to the other side.”
In October last year Ms George won a Brimbank Rotary Award for her years of dedicated service.
