St Joseph’s School celebrates connections with Shire of Waroona and Waroona police to make students safer

They say it takes a village to raise a child, which is perhaps why one school has taken a leaf out of that saying. St Joseph’s School has partnered with the Shire of Waroona and Waroona police to make the drive, ride and walk to school safer for everyone involved. Several improvements have been made since 2018, including a new roadside parking bay and dedicated bus stop. The latest improvement is an improved pedestrian crossing on Millar Street, between the school and Waroona Oval, which has been funded by a $39,000 contribution from the Shire of Waroona. Principal Michael O’Dwyer said the improvements to road safety around St Joseph’s had resulted in an increase in the number of bicycles at the school, alongside the number of students walking. “That’s more children are riding to school so we have had to obtain more bike bays for the children to do that,” he said. “A lot more children are scootering these days as well and there has been a physical increase, which has been really good.” Shire infrastructure and development services director Karen Oborn said the partnership helped ensure the council got the best return on investment. “We have advocated and Main Roads has just agreed to put a give way sign (on the corner of Hesse and Millar Streets) to make it even safer, because we have got that input from the local police and schools and know it’s definitely needed,” she said. Alongside the permanent safety improvements, Waroona police have increased their presence at the school around pick-up and drop-off times. Officer-in-charge Sgt Keith Tarver said there were benefits to both officers and the community as a result. “My staff members and I get to recognise families and children, so when we see them where they’re away from the school area, they’ve still happy to engage with us which helps foster great relations within the community,” he said. “We are thrilled to be as involved as we are with both schools and the Shire, and the feedback is that it’s working well.” Mr O’Dwyer said the safety improvements benefited the wider community alongside students.