The wall that Brooky built

By Bridget Cook
BROOKY Payne sets a perfect example that age is no barrier when its comes to taking action.
At seven years old the Cranbourne North girl lobbied her family, neighbours and school friends to sign a petition for a rebound wall in a park near her home.
In June, three years later, the wall was completed in the park on Elizabeth Street, Cranbourne North, just in time for some school holiday fun.
Brooky, now 10, contacted former Casey councillor Steve Beardon requesting the rebound wall. Mr Beardon assisted Brooky to put together a petition with about 50 signatures then presented it to council.
It was added to the Capital Works Program.
When elected to council, Councillor Amanda Stapledon committed to ensuring that the rebound wall was built and that was the outcome.
Brooky’s father Stewart Payne said she was thrilled the wall was completed.
He said she had used it many times already and he had seen many other children using it.
“There was a rebound wall that was in a park a while away from our house and we wouldn’t let her go there by herself,” he said. “That was when she started the petition.”
Students from Lyndhurst Secondary College decorated the wall last week.
Cr Stapledon said Brooky had shown great leadership and was awarded a Community Leadership Award last year for her advocacy for the rebound wall and was elected school captain at Courtenay Gardens Primary School
“I marvel at the talent and ability of our youth to both advocate for what is needed in ‘their’ community and to ensure it is not only practical but it is also a stunning work of art,” she said.
Brooky and the students at Lyndhurst Secondary College along with their teacher, Angela Green are to be congratulated.”