The Yarrawonga Lions Club, with help from Bunning’s Yarrawonga and Border Trophies, are proud to introduce their newest community project, the ‘buddy bench’ into our local schools.
These benches are designed to eliminate loneliness and foster friendship in the playground.
If students in the school see someone sitting on the bench, they are encouraged to invite them off the bench to go and play with them or hang out and have a chat.
“I saw something online about the buddy bench and got inspiration from there,” Yarrawonga Lions Club Secretary Deb Van Corler said.
“It is really to assist in anti-bullying and to help the children.
“I am stoked we have been able to come together and produce these for the local schools. To see the students using them and for their specified reason will just be fantastic.”
“It was just a great idea for a mutual aid and kindness that can be implemented in all of the school playgrounds,” President Joan Tufvesson added.
“To see it as somewhere to sit, where if people are aware will entice them to come up and check in on whoever is sitting there. Hopefully getting them out of their own head for a while.
“Bunnings Yarrawonga were fantastic in supplying us with the timber and paint and Border Trophies did a fantastic job with the plaque.”
The buddy bench isn’t just a piece of outdoor furniture. It’s a way for children to connect.
Students from all over the country have been requesting for them to be installed in their playgrounds.
Sacred Heart College were lucky to be the first in town to receive their Buddy Benches with Principal Lew Nagle saying they will be beneficial right across the board.
“We haven’t decided exactly where the two benches will be situated however near our wellbeing centre where they have been delivered by the Lions seems a fitting place,” Mr Nagle said.
“We have a lot of gratitude for the Lions thinking of us and the other schools and making these benches that will be very beneficial for both our students and staff.
“Every bit helps, especially with children coming out of iso and a couple of disrupted years, a number are struggling with getting back to ‘normal’, so this is a great initiative.”
While it can be difficult for an adult to remember those awkward days on the playground, these kids live it every day. They see firsthand how something like this can help other kids feel less lonely.
Yarrawonga College P-12 were also presented with two buddy benches with 5-8 campus Principal Georgie Thomas saying that they will be an asset for staff as well as students.
“It’s the little things that count and if they help even one student, then they have done their job,” Ms Thomas said.
“We extend our appreciation to the Lions for these benches and for assisting our students in their times of need.
“I think it will be great for new students especially but also others that don’t feel that they fit in or students who may be getting bullied.
“It will also be a great asset for staff too, to be able to observe who may be struggling and who is looking for that little bit of an extra reach out.”