Wheatbelt Mentoring Success Continues
— President in Cricket Heaven
President Tom really enjoyed himself when he got to host the Hon. Tuck Waldron, former WA Minister for Sport and Recreation, and past Chair of WA Cricket, at our recent meeting. Tom also brought along WA Cricket’s new Manager for the Wheatbelt, Emma Wilson.
Tuck Waldron, President Tom and Emma Wilson from Cricket WA
Tuck was born in Kojonup, went to school at Jingalup Primary School and then boarded at Hale School. After a career with Elders real estate and insurance, plus lots of country cricket and football, Tuck became a member of the WA Parliament for 16 years, including over 6 years a Minister for Sport and Recreation (President Tom’s dream job!)
Tuck was with us in his role as Patron of the Wheatbelt and Beyond Youth Mentoring (WBYM), a long-standing partner of Applecross Rotary, beginning many years ago as True Blue Dreaming, and carefully curated by John Kelly ever since. The mentoring program now involves 7 District High Schools, and the high school students are mentored by over 100 students drawn from all 5 WA universities. The university students link up with the wheatbelt school students via the Internet, and there are also opportunities for them to meet one another face-to-face once or twice a year.
A key issue is the inequities of high school education between metropolitan Perth and rural towns, most of whose (District) high schools do not have formal classes beyond year 10. So the students are faced with a choice: quit after year 10 or head to a major rural town (such as Narrogin, Merredin or Northam) and look for somewhere to board while completing year 11 and 12 or enrolling in a TAFE course. Or going to boarding school in Perth, an expensive proposition.
Tuck first came to know WBYM when he was involved in an evaluation of True Blue Dreaming as it evolved into WBYM. The impacts were much broader than expected. It had a positive impact on everyone involved - students, teachers, parents, and even the mentors! Students gained confidence and self esteem, and their educational performance and social skills also improved. The teachers reported improved engagement with their students and the parents took more interest in their children’s schooling.
The relationship with the mentors was the key driver: it was non-judgemental. The mentors enjoyed learning more about living in rural communities.
So who is funding all of this?
There’s Federal funding, and Rotary Clubs like Applecross. Lotteries WA funds a 3 day camp at Swanleigh at Guildford for students and mentors to get to know each other better.
Well done Applecross Rotary, you can be justifiably proud of helping WBYM become the success it is!
Click here for recording of Tuck's presentation