Shire promotes girl empowerment

From left: St Therese pupils Sunny Miocic, Grace Mahoney, Bethany Rodaughan, Amielle Martin and Grace Dowling.

MORE than 170 grade six girls from across the Surf Coast came together last week for ‘The Power of Connection’ Grade Six Girls Empowerment Day at Torquay’s Banyul-Warri Fields.

The day saw girls from eight different primary schools across the shire gather to partake in a range of health and wellbeing activities.

Cr Martin Duke said the event was great for the pupils to learn more about managing their wellbeing ahead of them making the step up to high school.

“This is the first time we’ve held this event. The idea was for the girls – who came from all parts of the shire – to connect with others whom they may end up at the same secondary school with, and to teach them about the importance of looking after their health and wellbeing.

“Starting high school is a big transition for a young person, so we want to help give them a head start and make sure they look after themselves and know about all the local health and leisure services they can access.”

The activities included yoga and meditation as wells as a sustainability initiative, where the girls made beeswax wraps.

Cr Duke said the event also looked to make students aware of the youth lounge at Kurrambee Myaring Community Centre, which is open from 3-5pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

“The youth lounge is a chill out space for young people, but next year our plan is to also run facilitated programs like yoga and cooking classes.”

The event was run as part of the shire’s youth program funded by the state government.