Warrnambool East Primary School community crew showcase important messages

The WEPS community crew, comprising of students from Warrnambool East Primary School (WEPS), gathered on Wednesday to officially open their neighbourhood art project at the new Wavelinks Park in Fleetwood Court. 

WEPs wellbeing team member Jodie Carey said the role of the community crew was to promote a safe, engaging, positive environment in East Warrnambool.

Mrs Carey said the boards which adorn the park showcased the students' messages and highlighted the community crew's values of respect, trust, honesty, care and confidence.

"These pieces of art, (with the messages) kick the goals, jump the hurdles, be the change, see the good, enjoy the moment and respect the rules, are all things the kids have come up with," she said. 

The students performed a rap at the opening about the importance of working as team and said they were proud of the community artwork.

"The key objective is to work collaboratively with students, families, school, police, local council and key community groups to promote a sense of belonging, connectedness and pride amongst children and families," Mrs Carey said. 

Warrnambool police Leading Senior Constable Trudy Morland said the project taught students to get along and look after each other.

"It also gives them an activity to get out and interact with other people from their community and it's a place for the community to meet," Leading Senior Constable Morland said. "We're really proud of what our young people have done. We've guided them but they've done the work."

Leading Senior Constables John Keates said the park was great for the area.

"It's given the young people a sense of belonging, and a sense of community and pride in where they live," he said.

"We want the young people to take ownership of this area and to look after it and to show the adults that having a cohesive community is what young people are after. We should all learn from young people, especially these young people, and take a leaf out of their book."

Resident Leah Brooks who has lived in the area for 12 years and has six daughters, said the well-lit park gave children a safe place to play.

Ms Brooks said it was a nice space for the community to use and her daughter Amelia, eight, said it was good to have a park close to home to play in.

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