Search is on for a mascot

Waverley Council wants local primary school kids to get creative and come up with a mascot to spearhead a new road safety campaign.

The mascot will be an integral part of an education campaign to raise awareness of road safety and safe parking around schools. It will feature on all council materials that support this ongoing campaign.

Mayor Ingrid Strewe said the competition was a fun way to promote a very serious message.

‘School zones can be hectic for both pedestrians and drivers, particularly during pick up times, and children are especially vulnerable,’ she said. ‘It was upsetting to hear of the four young Sydney children injured on their way home after their first day back at school. Tragically accidents do happen and we must do everything we can to avoid them, including parking safely and slowing down around school zones.’

Double parking while waiting for children is a serious problem as it blocks children’s view of approaching vehicles and forces vehicles onto the wrong side of the road.
‘As part of our new campaign we want to ‘drive’ home to parents and carers the message they must not put convenience before safety,’ the mayor said.

Bondi Public School, Bondi Beach Public School, Clovelly Public School, Kesser Torah College, Montessori East primary school and Moriah College Infants have all signed up for the campaign.

Winners from each primary school will receive a prize valued at $150. The school with the overall winning entry will receive $5000.

The competition closes Friday July 4. For information call Meg Cunningham on 9369 8060.Information sheets are available from the school office or online at www.waverley.nsw.gov.au