Breakfast Club serving thousands of meals

SINCE its expansion earlier in the year, the State Government and Foodbank Victoria’s School Breakfast Clubs program is now supporting over twenty Ballarat school communities.

Providing breakfasts before school, lunches and school holiday supplies where needed, the program has brought Mount Clear College, Mount Rowan Secondary College, Woodmans Hill Secondary College, Little Bendigo Primary School, Ballarat High School and Phoenix P-12 Community College on board in 2020.

Ballarat High School’s Breakfast Club launched in term three, and has provided 1153 breakfasts, 1058 lunches, 948 snacks, and 20 holiday packs so far.

In a Zoom forum last Monday with Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison, Foodbank Victoria CEO David McNamara and the broader Ballarat Breakfast Club community, BHS principal Gary Palmer showed his gratitude for support being given to his students and their learning.

“I thank Foodbank Victoria. It’s a fantastic thing they’re doing. We know the importance of eating well and not just the impacts that it has on school life, but all aspects of life,” he said.

“We know we have vulnerable families at our school, as all schools do, so we’re really grateful to have this opportunity to support our families.”

Former teacher and Member for Wendouree, Juliana Addison said students need proper meals before they start their school day, to help them concentrate, learn and be their best.

“The expansion of the School Breakfast Clubs to local kids in Ballarat will mean students have the fuel they need to get the most out of their education,” she said.

Breakfast Clubs were already established at Dana Street, Caledonian, Canadian Lead, Delacombe, Forest Street, Invermay, Macarthur Street, Magpie, Mount Clear, Mount Pleasant, Sebastopol, Newington, Wendouree primary schools as well as Yuille Park P-8 Community College Grevillea Campus and Ballarat Specialist School.