Healthy Breakfast Club

The HBC was started early 2002 in response to requests from local schools who were experiencing a significant increase in the number of students arriving at school hungry. Initially we started serving breakfast at Dudley Park Primary School 2 days a week. The program has grown to a point where we now serve breakfast in 10 schools across the Region. This in turn represents around 1,450 breakfasts per week provided by more then 60 dedicated volunteers.

 The purpose of the HBC is to highlight the importance of eating a healthy breakfast and to provide students with a healthy and nutritious start to the school day. We also aim to educate students and parents on the benefits of healthy eating habits as well as improving Nutrition, learning abilities and reducing disruptive or anti-social behavior.

 The HBC started off with a $1000 donation from Mr. Terry Power with a vision that no child should have to go to school hungry. Since that time we have formed many partnerships. Notably in 2005 one of the partnerships saw WestAus & Varity WA distribute over 900 new children’s bikes to every school in the Peel Region. Until recently the HBC has primarily been supported financially by the generosity of local business such as HN Perry Alcoa and staff members of the City of Mandurah and Peel Development Commission who donate via a payroll deduction scheme. Due to our Public Benevolent status we are able to offer all donors tax deductibility.

 In May 2006 and as a result of recent funding initiatives by the Federal Government, we were able to add an extra day to the Breakfast Club at Pinjarra, Greenfield’s and Riverside Gardens. In October 2006 we were able to introduce the program into Waroona.

We also established the HBC everyday at Boddington District High School where, instead of breakfast, we provide a healthy lunch to between 15 and 20 indigenous students. Donna Beach, the Aboriginal Liaison Officer, and her staff utilize this time to also provide the Students with remedial reading classes. The lunch program was made possible through the generous sponsorship of Boddington Gold Mine & Alcoa (Huntly Mine Site).