The cogs are turning on a new bike shed at Wandin North Primary School, thanks to the excellent leadership and initiative of two year-six students.
From drawing up the design plans, organising the construction and even sourcing funding from the local community bank, Students Parker and Mitchell led the entire development on their own volition.
Wandin North Primary School principal Paul Bailey said the two boys set a bright example for the rest of their peers.
“These two boys thought of an idea, planned it, showed initiative in terms of not just words, but what their actions would be.
“It’s quite inspiring for the children to see that things can come together with great planning and great teamwork,” Mr Bailey said.
Parker and Mitchell both rode their bikes to school and saw how the lack of a roof over the bike storage area stopped them, and others, from riding to school on days it was forecast to rain.
“It was resulting in some of the children’s bikes getting wet and children deciding not to ride their bikes to school due to the lack of infrastructure that was there,” Mr Bailey said.
The pair booked a meeting with Mr Bailey where they would pitch their bike shed concept through a powerpoint presentation, and then later pitch it to the school council.
After they won over the council, Mr Bailey encouraged them to approach\ Community Bank Wandin-Seville, where they would score an $8000 sponsorship to fund the new bike shed.
Community Bank Wandin-Seville executive officer Leah Thompson said the bank was always happy to support local projects.
“Our purpose is to support our local community. We know times can be tough with budgets and financial strain affecting not only schools, but also many local organisations.
“So we love that we can be involved and help to fund local projects, especially ones that our youth benefit from and are so passionate about,” Ms Thompson said.
Once the project secured funding, Jackie Butler from Community Bank Wandin-Seville visited the school to announce the project’s success and show recognition to the boys’ hard work.
The boys also drew upon their supportive families to assist in the construction of the shed as their dads completed the concrete foundations and roofing for the shed.
In their final year of primary school, Parker and Mitchell wanted to leave Wandin North Primary School a better place.
“The main message for the two boys was to try and leave Wandin North Primary School a better place for when they left it, and to be able to have an idea that supports the children for the now, but then provide that infrastructure to support the children into the future.”
Mr Bailey said he aimed to teach children at Wandin North Primary School to think about how they can make a change in Wandin North.
“We have built a culture at Wandin North for children to be able to think of others and to think outside of their bubble, how they can influence and have an impact in our Wandin north community and our wider community at the same time.”
“It’s a great testament for the kids at our school at Wandin North.”
