Young people in Adelaide’s south have come up with a ‘Crackerjack’ idea to help prevent crime and bridge the generation gap between old and young at a special Mission Australia lawn bowls event at the Happy Valley Bowls Club on Thursday, August 2.

Fifteen Year 10 student s from Aberfoyle Park High School, who are part of Mission Australia’s Keep It Real crime prevention program, will roll up to learn how to play lawn bowls with club members in an innovative day of ‘get to know you’ activities at the club.

While the students would more usually be found on a football oval, rugby pitch or dancefloor than a bowling green, there’s not a hint of hesitation about the day for them.

“They love the idea of learning how to play lawn bowls, they came up with the idea themselves,” says Mission Australia’s Onkaparinga Youth Services Manager Kerrie Sellen.

“It’s a great way for them to meet older members of the community on their own ground,” she said. “The more young and old members of our community get together, the more they understand each other and the more likely they are to look out for each other in a very positive way,” she said.

Keep It Real is a National Community Crime Prevention Programme, funded by the Federal Government, aimed at identifying and promoting innovative ways of reducing and preventing crime and the fear of crime. As well as helping young people learn about the impact of crime, it seeks to break down the generation gap between young and older people, to build a better sense of community and connection.

As part of the program, the Mission Australia Keep It Real team has been looking around the Happy Valley Bowls Club area to come up with ways to help prevent crime and reduce fear, such as improved lighting and pathways etc. They will present their findings at the lawn bowls event.

“We’re aiming to come up with practical ways to reduce crime in the area and to help get rid of the stereotypes that different generations often have about each other,” Ms Sellen said.

Media are very welcome to attend the event at the Happy Valley Bowling Club, Taylors Road, Aberfoyle Park, from 10.30-2pm (bowling matches will be held from 11-12 and 1-2) for photos and interviews of club members and Keep It Real participants.

For more information, please contact:
Marie McInerney, Rann Communication, 08 8344 8462 or 0418 273 698

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