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New School Buses Will Begin Operating In MarchThe first of a new fleet of school buses will start operating around the Bairnsdale area from tomorrow (Wed 9 March). By Kaylene Wickham - 8th March 2005 - Back to News But these will not be the huge, noisy, diesel powered, road-hogging monsters we are all used to.
They will be powered by youthful energy, their lights are smiles, they run on seemingly inexhaustible legs and while they make a noise, it’s the sound of laughter.
They are the Walking School Buses announced last year and which will begin operating at the Lucknow Primary School on Wednesday, 9 March.
Services to Bairnsdale West Primary, Bairnsdale Primary and St Mary’s Primary will begin on 16, 22 and 23 March respectively while Bairnsdale 754 will begin on 19 April.
East Gippsland Shire Council’s Walking School Bus Program Manager Kaylene Wickham says response to the program from schools, students and parents has been excellent.
"An average of eight children from each school want to be involved and two parents from each have volunteered meaning we will be able to implement one bus in each school by March," she said.
"But we are confident the program will grow as parents and children see the benefits that are achieved through the daily exercise."
Ms Wickham said that a survey on transport to and from schools that are actively involved in the Travel smart program that is designed to reduce greenhouse emissions will also be undertaken.
"This will help us establish a benchmark to compare the impact that the Walking School Bus program will have on the number of children ‘walking’ after 6 months," she said.
"We are now in the process of training parents and community volunteers – the drivers - in Road safety and basic first aid."
Ms Wickham said the ‘drivers’ were also walking and becoming familiar with the designated paths.
"Bus routes have been set for Lucknow and St Mary’s and both have been checked for safety, crossing points and distance by Shire Engineers teachers and parents," she said.
After the Bairnsdale program gets going, Council will meet with the Paynesville and Orbost Primary Schools who have already expressed an interested in beginning a bus in their schools. Lakes Entrance, Bruthen and the other towns of the shire will follow these.
Ms Wickham said it as exciting program and people want this to happen because they are already convinced of the benefits.
"It is a program that combines exercise, fun and companionship and it will have long term benefits for the students," she said.
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com
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