By GEORGIA WESTGARTH
WITHIN minutes of entering the school gates, Kelli Williams from Metro Trains was inundated with schoolchildren asking if she was from ‘Dumb Ways To Die.’
“It is such a contagious tune,” she laughed.
After letting the Cranbourne students down with her response, Kelli, a Metro Trains authorised officer, began a 45-minute presentation on rail safety.
“I am a part of Metro’s community education unit and we run a question and answer session with the students and teach them about using the rail system before they hit secondary school,” she said.
The team from Metro visited Courtenay Gardens Primary School on Thursday 13 August after the school took part in Metro’s ‘Safe travel on Metro Trains to Melbourne Day’ colouring competition.
Ten students from Courtenay Gardens were presented with certificates for their colouring efforts.
The top 10 posters from across Melbourne were judged by a panel of Metro’s authorised officers (ticket inspectors) and the schools own Emily Ben came first.
Along with a gift pack and presentation Emily won the school a visit from ‘Dumb Ways To Die’ characters Botch (green) and Numpty (blue).
Ms Williams said along with the serious messages on road safety the ‘Dumb Ways To Die’ song plays a big part in their presentation.
“We teach about the importance of staying behind the yellow line on train platforms, using the crossings appropriately and why it’s important to take headphones out of your ears when walking around train platforms and crossings.
“But as soon as I mention we are going to play the song and the characters walk out the students scream and clap and sing along – they get very excited to meet them,” she said.
