March 31, 2015
by Marcus Priaulx
Barambah PaCE
The community has benefited from Kingaroy Shoppingworld’s policy of not serving school-aged children without their parents during school hours, Centre Manager Karen Dennis says.
And she would like to see all shops in the South Burnett to introduce the same policy.
“It’s lifted the atmosphere of the town – you don’t see school children loitering around shops and the streets when they should be learning,” she said.
She was approached by Kingaroy State High School’s truancy officer Tarnya Pollard two years ago to introduce the policy, and leapt at it.
Signs stating children won’t be served are now posted at Shoppingworld’s front doors and in shops.
Karen praised the centre’s managers and owners, and said food outlets had been particularly strong in keeping the policy going.
“That’s where children will tend to gravitate to, particularly around lunch time,” Karen said.
“It would be easy to get a fast buck but the owners and managers are of a mindset kids should be in school during school hours, not downtown.”
Karen said the absence of children and teenagers hanging around aimlessly, while often smoking, made for a more relaxing and enjoyable atmosphere.
“The kids should be learning, opening themselves up to an education and bringing something back to the community at the end of it,” she said.
Children and families have generally respected Shoppingworld’s policy to not serve unaccompanied children during school hours, and feedback from parents has been positive.
“It is good for the area and at the end of the day, it’s the right thing to do.”
Several businesses in Kingaroy have supported this initiative of KSHS