Seeing the difference

A whole new world for students thanks to donation

It is a program that started in 2020 and last week four more Melaleuca Park Primary School students benefitted from the strong relationship that has been built between the school and Specsavers Mount Gambier.

Melaleuca Park Primary School deputy principal Tash HemmingsDunn said it was the first time since the partnership was established that another cohort of students had been able to access the eye tests, and, if required, the new glasses.

“Teachers were able to identify students from their class that could possibly have eye sight difficulties,” Mrs Hemmings-Dunn said. “All families were given the opportunity to also identify if they wanted their child’s eyes checked and older students were asked if they were having any difficulties and wanted their eyes checked.”

That saw 15 students make the trek to the Specsavers Mount Gambier store where three optometrists had been booked to conduct the tests, including student who were identified in 2020 that would require a follow up check up..

Four students were identified as needing glasses – three for the first time and one requiring a new prescription.

Those four students received their new glasses last Thursday – each excited to finally have the chance to see better, improving their learning along the way.

They shared the sentiment of then Year 7 student Brody, who was a recipient in 2020, who quickly realised during his eye test that he was probably going to need glasses.

“I was able to read the letters on the top row of the chart but the middle line and bottom line were hard, all I could see was little dots and lines” Brody said. “When she gave me the lenses to use, it was so much easier.”

Anecdotally Brody’s eyesight has been deteriorating for a couple of years and had started to become problematic in 2020 when the program was instigated, with the help of local charity Four Reasons Why.

“It is probably the first time I have sat at the back of the classroom and I have to ask my friends to read the board for me and tell me what to write down,” Brody said. “One day, the SSO gave me her glasses and I couldn’t believe the difference it made.”

And that difference for Brody and two other students from the 2020 donation, will now be permanent for the four students who received their glasses last week.

SEEING THINGS MORE CLEARLY:
Year 2 student Cheyden Roney; Specsavers Mount Gambier optical assitant Mel Smith working with Year 5 Eamber Edwards & Year 5 student Cheyden Roney getting fitted for his glasses by Mel Smith.