By Alesha Capone
Werribee’s Barry Cooper says it is a good thing for retired people to give back to the community.
Mr Cooper started volunteering at Little River Primary School at the beginning of the year, after retiring from his job as a professor of accounting at Deakin University.
He volunteers on a weekly basis through EdConnect Australia, to help pupils in grade 3 and 4 with their class work.
Mr Cooper said the students he volunteers with are about the same age as his grandchildren.
“I think the kids appreciate someone who can link with them and emphasise, be comfortable with them and explain things to them,” he said.
“The kids just want someone who will listen to them and provide a little encouragement.
“You can be a retired plumber or a retired professor, it doesn’t make a difference – the kids don’t mind as long as you can help them.”
Mr Cooper said he believed children at the Little River school also enjoyed having a male role-model, with only one male teacher and a male principal working at the school.
“It’s a lovely school with a great culture, you can feel it when you walk in,” he said.
“I remember when I first drove into Little River, I hadn’t been there for some years. It was like a country town like Werribee used to be – it was like going down memory lane.”
Mr Cooper said he would encourage other Wyndham residents to think about volunteering.
“This has been a really enjoyable experience for me and I highly recommend it,” he said.
For more information about the EdConnect volunteering opportunities see www.edconnectaustralia.org.au, email
edconnect@edconnect.org.au or call 1800 668 550.
