Variety has donated a van to Seymour College, opening the door to many students facing limitations getting to and from excursions and activities. Photos: Billie Davern.
As the wheels rolled into campus, the wait was finally over for Seymour College’s special education students and staff.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
After applying for a van to be donated to the school over the past couple of years, principal Debbie Oliver and assistant principal and special education leader Kristie Luckman found out that “the children’s charity”, Variety, would be funding the vehicle at the foundation’s grand final luncheon last year.
The van will open up a door to a whole new world for many of the special education students, aiding those with mobility issues to attend important events and activities.
Special education school captains Luke Dreier, Jacinta Swan, Oisin O'Sullivan and Jordan Murphy told Variety representatives how grateful they were to receive the van.
“It provides more opportunities for our students,” Ms Oliver said.
“For example, we had an issue with getting students to Riding for the Disabled because it was too expensive for us to afford to book a coach. Now we can use our own van.
“There’s also a class who couldn’t go swimming because we couldn’t get them down to the pool. It just opens up so many opportunities, we can do more things in the community and go on more excursions.”
The van officially arrived at the school on Monday, February 2, and the keys were handed over to Ms Oliver and Ms Luckman by Variety’s chief executive Peter Bruce.
The following day, a number of students got to give it a test drive, flooding excitedly into the van, with many not wanting to get out.
Students flooded into the van for the first time.
Ms Luckman said she felt emotional when the students tried out the bus for the first time.
“It was just great to see their faces lighten up, especially with the older kids knowing that it’s opening up more opportunities for every single student,” she said,
“I had tears in my eyes when it arrived yesterday and they gave me the keys to get in and learn how to do it.
“I’ve been trying to get this for years. It will open so many opportunities.”
Being wheelchair-accessible, the van will allow students like Emma to attend excursions across town.
The wider school will also benefit from the donated van, with transport now to be provided to students, from both the mainstream and special school, undertaking agricultural studies.
Ms Oliver said the college was truly thankful to have been chosen to receive this donation.
“We’re really grateful to Variety and to all of the people that donate to Variety for them to provide these things,” she said.
“We could never afford a bus like this ourselves without those people donating.”
21°C