Shire of Yarra Ranges mayor Monika Keane (left) joins Wesburn Primary students Bianca and Brodie for breakfast, served by Brekky Burra volunteers Marian King (centre) and Barbara Smith.By Dion Teasdale
FOUR Upper Yarra primary schools will continue to provide healthy breakfasts for their students with the continuation of the Brekky Burras program.
Brekky Burras was established a year ago to address the ongoing issue of children going to school without eating a nutritious breakfast.
A part of the State Government’s Best Start initiative, the program is being coordinated by the River Valley Church in partnership with other church groups and the Yarra Valley Community Health Service.
Visiting Wesburn Primary School last week, Shire of Yarra Ranges mayor Monika Keane announced the program had received additional funding from a philanthropic trust and Ruyton Girls’ School, allowing it to continue for at least another 12 months.
“Brekky Burras has become a successful way to encourage children to eat a healthy breakfast, and has so far been given the thumbs up by parents,” Cr Keane said.
“The program is currently being run at Millwarra, Warburton, Wesburn and Yarra Junction primary schools, with participation of around 20 to 30 children from each school.
“Since the program began, teachers have reported an improvement in concentration levels and behaviour in the classroom, and with additional funding it’s great to know Brekky Burras will continue to make a positive impact among our school communities well into 2007.”
Three out of the four Brekky Burras programs are staffed by volunteers from community church groups.
The fourth has a paid program coordinator and student helpers. For more information on the Brekky Burras program, contact the shire’s Best Start community facilitator on 9294 6243.
