Marbs and Cuddlepot get safety first message acrossMarbs and Cuddlepot (alias Lee Vague and Jill McCubbin from the Wishbone Theatre) have been promoting a road safety message By Latrobe City Council - 22nd August 2001 - Back to News Marbs and Cuddlepot (alias Lee Vague and Jill McCubbin from the Wishbone Theatre) have been promoting a road safety message to Latrobe’s preschool children, as part of a road safety theatre emphasising safe pedestrian behaviour, and focussing on a theme of ‘stop, look, listen and think’
Latrobe City Community Safety Planner, Henk Harberts, said the majority of preschools in Latrobe City had participated in the Marbs and Cuddlepot road safety show, and the program had been very well received by children, parents and staff from preschool centres throughout Latrobe City.
"Using music, drama, dance and humour, parents as well as children and staff have pedestrian safety reinforced during the show," Mr Harberts said.
"Most of Latrobe’s preschools also used the ‘Starting Out Safely’ program which placed an emphasis on pedestrian safety towards the end of the preschool year. This is a time when many children are getting ready to walk to school the following year. Up until this time children are encouraged to hold an adult’s hand when they are out," Mr Harberts said.
Latrobe City Mayor, Councillor Brendan Jenkins said that many of Latrobe City’s Preschool centres had also taken their children on a road safety walk around their locality, emphasising safe places to play, and where and how to cross roads; with the children putting the skills they have learnt into practice.
"Pedestrian safety is also encouraged at the Hazelwood Power Children’s Traffic School (in Morwell) which most of Latrobe’s preschools visit on an annual basis," Cr Jenkins said.
"Additionally, staff in Latrobe City’s Preschool Unit have recently been trained by VicRoads in the ‘Early Childhood Child Restraint Training Program’. This enables preschool staff to pass this knowledge on to parents through training sessions, the first of which have now been held, and have been well received.
"Promoting road safety to children of preschool age in this manner, helps develop safe road use habits that stay with the children throughout the critical early years of schooling, when they are most vulnerable as pedestrians. By teaching children these skills, we help create a safer community in Latrobe," Cr Jenkins concluded.
The road safety theatre has been funded by Central Gippsland RoadSafe – the local Community Road Safety Council and is supported by Latrobe City and Vicroads.
Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: latrobecity@gippslander.com

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