With all the issues we’ve been dealing with this year, a good distraction for me has been throwing myself into the activity I love most of all: feeding people!
I only became aware of the breakfast program, run at the Fremantle PCYC in Hilton, when I heard it was being cancelled in one week’s time! Turns out the PCYC had only secured limited funding and it had run out.
When I managed to get there on its last day, I did think it could have been done more modestly, thus extending the time it could have been run. Most of the children went to our local public school, Hilton Primary School, and I had been closely involved with the school P. and C. when my own child attended.
So I popped into the school for a quick chat with School Principal Dr Carmel Bochenek and Deputy Principal Daren Yhap. What they have done with that school is amazing; from the beautiful yarning circle to their zero waste policy this is a school of, and for, our local community.
Unsurprisingly, they were more than happy to see a breakfast club at the school. Yikes, now I had to make it happen! Of course, Foodbank are the obvious choice: they provide food for a number of schools, as do many other charitable groups. Sadly, this help is needed more and more.
But Portcare (https://www.portcare.com.au/home) was recommended to me. They’re in the neighbourhood and they have been providing us with bread, milk, eggs, honey, margarine, cereal, jam and other staples.
It’s a real community project. We have parents dropping in fresh eggs from time to time, which are gratefully accepted; the school chaplain (Mrs Hsieh Hsien (Shen) Lim) provides us, and the school, with a generous box of fruit and veg each week; and more recently they topped up our cereal supplies.
Local Real Estate Agent Lauri Curtain has helped us financially, to purchase what we cannot get donated (https://www.curtainandco.com.au/). Charlie’s Coffee Shop on South Street has been providing cheese.
The community development folks at Fremantle Council have provided us with a jumbo jet of a toaster and an electric frypan, and with another pan provided by the school we have two for faster service on our pancake days. Yes, Anchor Foods (https://www.anchorfoods.com.au/) have also donated some of their shake and bake mixes (well, the kids do love them!). We’ve even had an amazing crêpe morning, all provided by a mystery French chef. Sadly, he has left the country!
So twice a week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, we provide the children with a very basic breakfast of a choice of cereals and toast, jam, honey, vegemite, boiled eggs, cheese or baked beans, depends on what we have. We’ve just received a sandwich press, so toasted cheese sandwiches this week!
We offer a sustaining breakfast and a positive social experience for the children. We encourage all families to bring their children, regardless of their situation. There’s a teacher on site at all times, but the noise level is still sometimes quite impressive. We arrive at 7.30am for an 8am start, hence the simple offerings, and we’re generally cleaned up and out by nine.
Maureen Maher (my co-convenor with the Hilton Precinct group) has been organising the roster for us, but we are looking for a replacement as she has other commitments. Mary Barton is our absolute rock, coming in both days each week. Volunteers are local community members, as well as parents of course.
A police clearance and working with children certificate are needed, unless you have a child at the school, but they are easily arranged through the post office. Yes, we are always looking for more volunteers because things go well with three and even better with four!
If you would like to join us, there’s always next year! Please drop an email to hiltonprecinct@gmail.com