A stop and a read for Eureka MP

STAFF and students at Buninyong Primary School received a visitor earlier this week with Member for Eureka, Michaela Settle, stopping in to check in on newly-completed facilities.

With the school’s toilets recently overhauled and students taking part in the Premiers’ Reading Challenge, Ms Settle said she had a joint purpose behind visiting.

“It’s been a very happy visit for a two-fold reason,” she said.

“The toilet block’s just been completed so we were coming to see that in its completion and also to really talk to the kids about the Premiers’ Reading Challenge and how to get involved.

“We dropped off some books for them which were Bluey, Roar! Went the Lion, and one for some of the older students which was the AFL Play Like A Girl book.”

Ms Settle said the Buninyong Primary School community is one she has a strong history.

“One of my very first jobs when I got elected in 2018 was at the school’s Scotsburn campus where I got to open their toilet,” she said.

The updated bathroom facilities were completed about two weeks ago after being announced in 2019 and funded with more than $295,000 from the State Government’s Minor Capital Works Fund.

The Premiers’ Reading Challenge was established in 2005, and tasks students with reading a set number of books.

Those who complete the challenge receive a certificate bearing the signatures of the current Premier as well as former Premiers still alive.

Buninyong Primary School principal Bernie Conlan said the new toilet block is greatly appreciated and that the reading challenge is a great way to nurture students’ literacy skills.

“The toilets have been very important because they haven’t had a serious makeover since they were built in 1988,” he said.

“The kids are loving being able to use the facilities that are really easy to keep clean with touchless aspects.

“The reading challenge really encourages kids to read more and if we’re achieving that, it’s potentially introducing to new books and lifting their engagement with reading.”