Wyndham council senior staff have been working as temporary school crossing supervisors during the coronavirus pandemic.
The council’s director of city operations, Stephen Thorpe, has been filling in as a crossing supervisor at Featherbrook P-9 College in Point Cook every Monday and Friday, for the past few weeks.
“I realise just how valued the service is to the community, and how the children are so well-mannered and respect the role,” Mr Thorpe said.
“Children look forward to crossing the road and saying ‘hello’.”
Long-term school crossing supervisor Leanne Braddock has been helping to show Mr Thorpe the ropes.
“You only see the children for a few seconds a day, but you know you can make an impact,” she said.
“Sometimes they come to me with a scraped knee and I tell them to go straight to the front office to get a Band-aid.
“My fridge is always full of beautiful pictures drawn by the school children.”
Ms Braddock said while she enjoyed helping the children, there were also dangers attached to the job, including cars that narrowly miss her, as she manages the school crossing.
Mr Thorpe said it was important for the community to be mindful of their driving around school crossings.
He said motorists should slow down to 40km/h and follow the instructions of school crossing supervisors.
He also asked parents to maintain social distancing near school crossings.
