Tigers lend hand

By Bridget Cook
STUDENTS at Cranbourne West Primary tackled train safety yesterday with representatives from Richmond Football Club and Connex.
The Connex Tigers in Schools Program is aimed to teach primary school students about rail safety, using a fun footy clinic as the hook to deliver the safety message.
Richmond Football Club coaches and Connex representatives have teamed up to bring this program to more than 20,000 children during the footy season this year.
Connex Deputy Chairman Bruce Hughes said kids could switch off if they started to feel they were being lectured.
“Introducing the safety message combined with a footy clinic helps to make it fun, interactive and memorable,” Mr Hughes said.
“Every year there are serious train incidents involving children who are either unaware of or ignore train safety rules, with grave consequences. We hope to reduce the number of incidents involving children through this program.”
The key issues covered in the clinics are always stand behind the yellow line at the platform, don’t run on the platform, only cross the track at a pedestrian crossing, don’t put yourself in danger by holding the train door and help your older team mates by offering them a seat.