Kilmore Primary School (KPS) students ventured outside their comfort zones last week, learning skateboarding techniques from Gnarly Neighbours, an organisation that specialises in teaching youth how to skate.
Students from Years 3 to 6 strapped on their knee pads and grabbed their helmets for the incursion.
Gnarly Neighbours staff members Brad Cole and Nathan Wiggett led the students as they eagerly dove into learning new skateboarding skills. Meanwhile, Kilmore’s Bendigo Bank, who sponsored the event, coincidentally celebrated its 10th anniversary on the same day.
KPS Wellbeing Program Worker Richie Boyer said the program boasted a ‘can do attitude’.
“What interests us most about Gnarly Neighbours is the people,” he said.
“They have actually grown up in this community, and it’s all about engagement of youth, getting people to have a go, and try new things.
“We really love the work they do in the community, and we wanted to get them out to more primary schools.”
Mr Boyer also recognised the healthy connection between the organisations.
“I think us being able to work with the Bendigo Bank, who have funded this program for us, [allows us to have] a really healthy connection with Bendigo Bank,” he said.
“We’ve got Bendigo Bank involved, we’ve got Gnarly Neighbours, and Kilmore Primary School all coming together for the students’ benefit.”
Mr Cole shared a similar sentiment, stating the program was all about confidence building.
“It’s all about the confidence in the students,” he said.
“They come, and they’re all down thinking they can’t do it, [so] we teach them a new skill and they all leave with a smile.
“We go to as many schools as we can. We’re working on being able to go to every school in Victoria. We also teach skateboarding and art workshops out of our shop in Seymour.”
To find out more about Gnarly Neighbours, search ‘Gnarly Neighbours’ on Facebook or visit their Instagram @gnarlyneighbours.
