Teens let down

By Danielle Galvin
TEENS in Kooweerup will have to find other ways to amuse themselves, with the after school care program finishing at the end of this term.
The council run program, which has been in Kooweerup for four years, will move to Emerald in the coming weeks to provide youth services for hills teenagers.
Lisa Van Dord, whose daughters use the program, said it was a fantastic addition to Kooweerup and she was sad to see it go.
“What a wonderful thing it’s been for the kids,” she said. “The leaders are fantastic, it’s a great outlet for the kids.”
Ms Van Dord said her son wouldn’t have the chance to attend the program.
“He’s been itching to go but he’ll miss out, unfortunately,” she said.
“The girls were some of the first to go, slowly the numbers have built up and then in the last few months the numbers have exploded.”
Year 10 Kooweerup Secondary College student Erin Font said she had been going to the program for three years. It started in the community centre before moving to the Men’s Shed on Rossiter Road.
“I used to go to Casey, but since we moved out here in Year 7, my sister started coming so that’s how I heard about it,” she said.
The Kooweerup teen says it’s a great program to be involved in.
“You get to meet a lot of people and it’s also about being involved in the community,” she said.
“I am sad to see the program end – I would have had to finish up this year anyway but I’m more upset for my brother that he doesn’t get to finish it.”
Youth services coordinator Emma Firth said it was important to share the council’s resources throughout the shire.
“Next term the program will be run in Emerald and we’ll assess it on a term by term basis,” she said.
Ms Firth said Pakenham youth facility My Place would open on 30 July and MYBus would visit rural townships.
She said a letter was sent out to parents telling them about the program finishing.
“The parents have been really understanding, they know they’ve been very lucky to have the program in the town but they are obviously a bit disappointed,” Ms Firth said.
Council youth participation officer Sam Kosky said the afterschool care program would be run from Emerald Library in Term 3 on Wednesday afternoons.
“It’s the same sort of problem that Kooweerup had – there’s a lack of transport and it can be hard to get to and from Emerald for young people,” she said.
Ms Firth said she hoped the program could continue in some capacity in Kooweerup.
“We’re hoping that we’ll have an expression of interest from a group or organisation so that we can continue to operate the program with the support or guidance of the shire,” she said.