Shire’s students send messages of hope

CHILDREN from Meredith Primary have joined with students from across the Golden Plains in writing postcards of support to community members in need.

With the pandemic lockdown came cases of loneliness and isolation for vulnerable residents, so the municipality’s Youth Development and Active Ageing and Disability Services groups teamed up with schools to send messages of hope.

Meredith Primary principal Steven Trotter stressed the importance of his pupils getting involved and gaining connections with community members.

“We know that there’s a number of people in and around the Golden Plains and Meredith that are often hard to reach out to, whether they’re elderly or vulnerable for other reasons,” he said.

“This is an initiative that means we can reach out without having to put people in positions where they feel awkward about their vulnerability.”

Meredith Primary School teacher Fairlie Pritchard said 52 school kids from grades 3 to 6 were involved in writing some of the over 1000 postcards created during the campaign.

“It’s about connecting and getting something that you probably wouldn’t normally get,” she said.

Postcards from students included messages like, “Remember there is always a rainbow after a storm. Breathe, laugh, relax and smile. Everything is going to be ok,” and, “You are not alone. Things are getting better each day; even if you can’t see it right now. Have faith that this too, will pass.”

Golden Plains Shire mayor Cr Owen Sharkey said the initiative is a quick and fun way for the pupils to send positive messages to those in need.

“The response has been fantastic to the point that we’ve run out of postcards,” he said. “It’s positive in terms of getting the kids to put themselves into that space and reflect on the messages that they are sending. It’s also great that it’s not digital!”

After attending school over the internet for the last few months, the staff said students found it a bit foreign putting pen to paper.

“Postcards are probably not something they write very often so it’s a bit of a novelty,” Ms Pritchard said.

Mr Trotter said it was important to retain face-to-face interactions with pupils during the COVID-19 restrictions on education.

“Particularly being rural, our families don’t always have the access to services or supports that you might get in Geelong or Ballarat. So, we had a real focus on the human element and connecting to people,” Mr Trotter said.

The postcards are just one part of the primary school’s community outreach program.

“We have a few projects up and running including the community pantry, which we put non-perishable food in and it’s just down on the school gate,” Mr Trotter said.

“We advertised it pretty strongly when COVID kicked off and the response from the community was great, people have been using it.”

Mr Trotter added that there is an unnecessary stigma in regional areas in asking for help and it’s programs like these that aim to reach out to the needy without shame.

“Things like the food pantry where people don’t have to see them, and these postcards which don’t have names on them get the message across that people should put their hand up to say that they need help, are lonely or need a bit of food,” he said.