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Liberals To Show City Kids The Country LifeA Liberal Government will fund trips for both country and city children to learn about each others lifestyles, Shadow Minister for Country Victoria Philip Davis said today. By Phillip Davis - 17th August 2006 - Back to News Mr Davis said under a Liberal Government the Star 6 Program, which currently funds trips for country grade six school students to the city, would be extended to allow for city children to visit the country.
"This program extension will be important for children of all backgrounds to learn about co-dependence," he said.
"Just as country children have been enjoying trips to Melbourne, including a visit to the Scienceworks museum, Melbourne children will have the opportunity to learn about life outside the city.
"City kids will see for themselves how great life is in rural Victoria, while learning in a hands-on manner about the co-dependence between country and city life.
"Perhaps one day when these children become adults they will choose to relocate to country Victoria."
Mr Davis said there had been recent efforts to create the opportunity for city families to visit the country through Farm Day, and a Liberal Government would work with the Victorian Farmers’ Federation to establish an ‘Adopt a Farm’ scheme for school aged children.
"Having city kids visit a working farm is an invaluable educational tool," he said.
"Many city kids would never have seen where the milk for their breakfast cereal comes from, or seen how a farm works.
"This program will expose city children to all the realities of country life, and tasks that many country children experience regularly such as milking a cow, mustering cattle, feeding the chooks and collecting eggs.
"Meanwhile, our country kids will continue to reap the benefits of funded excursions to the city.
"A Liberal Government is committed to ensuring valuable educational experiences are available to all children, irrespective of whether they are being raised in the city or country Victoria."
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com
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