• Home
  • Articles
    • Front Page
    • General Interest
    • Snippets
    • Mayoral Notes
    • Letters to the Editor
  • Competitions
  • Our Community
    • Our People
    • Question of the Week
    • Jobs in the Central West
    • Be Seen
  • Features
    • Rural Round Up
    • My Place
    • Health & Wellbeing
    • Loving Local Living
    • Just a Short Drive
    • Real Estate
  • Sports
    • Bowls
    • Cricket
    • Equestrian
    • Footy Tips
    • Golf
    • Netball
    • Rugby League
    • Rugby Union
    • Soccer
    • Touch Football
  • Contact Us
    • Contact Page
    • Advertise with us
    • Testimonials
    • Submit an Article
    • Subscribe to the Parkes Phoenix

Parkes Phoenix

Find A Friend On A Buddy Bench

March 30, 2017 By editor

Simple ideas are often the best, even when it comes to making a tough school playground friendlier. The buddy bench is one such idea to promote inclusion and friendship. Thanks to the Buddy Bench Initiative of the Currajong Autism & Special Needs Group primary schools in the Parkes Shire have received a buddy bench each last week with
the help of the John Holland Group.

Peak Hill Central School was the first to install their bench, donated by Forefront Services. “It is a fantastic idea and the kids enjoy using it,” said Assistant Principal, Sarah Browning. According to Deb Collier and Angela Wilson, facilitators of Currajong Autism & Special Needs Group, the initiative started early last year as a dream to provide a buddy bench for every primary school in and around Parkes.

“When Warren Monks of John Holland heard about our dream, he gave his employee Jodie Goonrey the huge task of
finding local businesses and suppliers to donate benches.” It was a huge team effort with Whitney’s Welding & Bobcat Hire building 10 originally-designed, double-sided benches; members of the group hand-painting the
benches TTT Signs providing the signs and donation plaques.

The buddy bench is a place for kids to sit, and send out a visual signal to other kids that they would like friendship, or somebody to play with. This visual signal makes children conscious of this, and is usually enough to prompt them to extend a hand.

By Maggi Barnard

Filed Under: Articles, General Interest

Latest Print Editions

Click here to download the recent issue (248) of The Parkes Phoenix (1.5MB PDF) – 26th February 2020

STAY CONNECTED

The Parkes Phoenix would like to thank you, our Facebook friends, for your continued support and readership!

CENTRAL WEST RURAL ROUND UP BOOKLET

Click here to download the Rural Round Up Booklet 

SEARCH THE PHOENIX

Recent Articles

  • Memories From Margaret March 5, 2021
  • New CUC Students Meet NSW Governor March 5, 2021
  • Be Seen @ The 2021 Flock Ewe Competition March 5, 2021
  • CanAssist Garage Sales Tick So Many Boxes March 5, 2021
  • Plenty Of Places For Parkes Swimmers March 5, 2021

CONTACT THE PHOENIX

Head Office Phone: (02) 6344 1846

Postal Address PO Box 203 Canowindra NSW 2804  

Editorial – Maggi Barnard Phone 0403 080 085 editor@parkesphoenix.com.au

Sales – Rochelle Frame Phone 0490 517 590 sales@parkesphoenix.com.au  

View our Privacy Policy.

View our Conflict Resolution Process.

View our Ethics and Complaints Policy.

Want to advertise with us?

Information on our Community Promotions.

Submit an Article

We are always looking for new articles of interest to the local community.

Please feel free to submit an article for possible inclusion in a future issue.

To submit an article, click here to use our online article submission form.

Receive The Phoenix via Email

* indicates required

Copyright © 2021 · Website setup by WebSysMan