EVERY weekday morning bus driver Peter Caton takes 20 students along the Cobden-Warrnambool Road to Allansford District Primary School.
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But last year students began to count the remains of koalas killed by vehicles on the roads. They counted six alone one morning, and about 30 during a year.
Student Lori Willsher decided she needed to do something, and with the help of Mr Caton and the school requested more signage in a letter to South West Coast MP Roma Britnell, who found the government believed signage was sufficient.
"It made me feel disappointed and sad that not many people are looking out and giving way," Lori said. "But then I felt overwhelmed when I had the idea to save the koalas."
Not ones to give up, the students persuaded Mr Caton to inquire about a program to symbolically 'adopt a koala' through the World Wildlife Fund.
The students are now selling donuts made by Mr Caton with locally donated ingredients to fundraise to adopt two koalas this year, which will contribute to new habitats and treatment for sick and injured koalas.
They are also preparing a book about the adventures of a Koala named Popey, named after their driver's employer Popes Timboon bus service, which has donated the money for the first koala to be adopted.
"They nagged me and nagged me," Mr Caton said. "These are farm kids; they're used to seeing dead animals ... the whole school is involved."
The school's principal Wes Allen said the students' relationship with their bus driver was unique, and the fundraising had given purpose to their learning.
"We are unbelievably lucky to have a bus driver who is invested in them as people. He has taken it on his back to contact different groups and he cooks the donuts," Mr Allen said.
"It's creating a great atmosphere and this is what I consider learning to be all about."
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