Mums in class

By Mara Pattison-Sowden
YOUNG mums in the Upper Yarra have transformed an outdoor area of their classroom into a children’s playground.
The mothers are part of the Upper Yarra Community House Young Mums VCAL program, where young women who have left school and had children can complete their education in a supportive environment.
Young mum Stacey Clarke said they began the project two years ago to design and build an outside play area for small children to enjoy.
“We wanted something for the kids to stimulate themselves and have more to do outside while we were studying,” she said.
Stacey has completed her course and looks forward to working from home when she finishes her certificate in hairdressing.
“We worked really hard to get it finished and to see it done is really rewarding,” she said.
“Other students’ kids will now have plenty of entertainment.”
The new playground at the Little Yarra Road campus features a cubby house, sandpit, seating area, fairy garden and walk and a vegie garden.
Woori Yallock Community Bank and Youth Foundations Victoria donated $2000 towards the project, and the cubby house was built and donated by students from Upper Yarra Secondary College.
The students were part of a young men’s mentoring project with Ben’s Shed participants, who spent an hour each week building the house to the mum’s specifications.
Gembrook MP Tammy Lobato officially opened the playground last Wednesday and had the honour of naming the mother and child scarecrows that will keep watch over the vegetable patch.
Ms Lobato said she named one Dawn, after “dawn of a new day” and the girl’s opportunities, and Hope, “for the next generation of children”.