A skating grind

By Mara Pattison-Sowden
The four skaters and their mates are sick of being thrown out of concreted areas around town.
They want somewhere safe and close to home where they can hang out and skate like other teenagers.
With the help of Bridgebuilders and a Youth Foundations grant, the boys are holding a scooter competition in Yarra Junction over the school holidays to gather support for a skate park in Woori Yallock.
The Mail first spoke to the boys in November last year, (Kids appeal to ‘let us skate, mate’, 30 November, 2010) after a community youth forum where 30 young people responded to a questionnaire saying they were unhappy there was nothing for young people to do in Woori Yallock.
Almost a year later and the Grade 6 boys have taken on the responsibility to advocate for a community skate park.
Jacob said although there were skate parks in Lilydale and Yarra Junction, their biggest problem was getting there.
“Not all parents have the time to take us 15 minutes up the road to a skate park, go do what they need to do and come back to pick us up,” he said.
He also said sometimes the bus drivers wouldn’t let them take their scooters on the bus.
“If we’ve got plans to go up there then they tell us we can’t take our scooter on the bus and we have to wait half an hour and see if the next driver will let us,” he said.
The boys all agreed they were only allowed to catch the bus when they went up with friends.
Luke E said not many people in Woori let their kids catch the bus, “my mum didn’t let me ’til late last year, and I still have to go with mates now.”
“It’s safer walking around Woori Yallock,” Mitch said, “I reckon most parents would prefer we walk up the road rather than take the bus.”
Jacob agreed and said he tended to go on the weekends and come home before it got dark.
“We all do sports after school but we can’t do it every day, otherwise we just walk or ride around Woori,” he said.
The boys said their parents were supporting them 100 per cent, including helping to organise the scooter competition.
Luke said they were hoping to get more people interested in the idea, and said there would be a petition to sign on the day.
Woori Yallock Primary School chaplain Veronica Tirchett said the school was proud of what the boys had done so far.
“This enthusiasm for the students to feel the need for a safe and fun place to hang out will be great for the whole community,” she said.
The Yarra Valley Scooter Day will be held during the school holidays on Thursday 29 September at the Yarra Junction Skate Park, from 11.30am to 2.30pm.
There will be a free bus departing from Woori Yallock Primary School at 10.30am and returning at 3pm.
There will be DJs, a sausage sizzle and prizes for the winners. The competition is free to enter, sign up on arrival, and heats of six at a time will be given a few minutes to show off their skills.
Find out more at the Facebook page: yarra junction scooter comp.