Bourke to launch Bush to Beach?

Bourke group considering a Bush to Beach program, at back l-r: Bourke Public School Principal Margaret Poole-Gordon, Maranguka CEO Matt Davidson, Transport for NSW staff Melissa Nicolson and Kayla Cohen, Bourke Mayor Barry Hollman, Relieving Officer-in-Charge of Bourke Police Sergeant Carl Atkins, Bourke Council Manager Economic Development Mel Milgate, Manager Bourke PCYS George Dickson, and Senior Leader Community Engagement Scott Parnaby. Seated l-r: John Cannons and Jack Cannons from Bush to Beach, Owner of the Northy Pub Lindsay Curry and Bourke Shire Council General Manager Leonie Brown. Photo TWH

The Bush to Beach program is one step closer to reality in Bourke following a community meeting last week.

Bush to Beach founder Jack Cannons and his son John met with Bourke mayor Barry Hollman, community members, the principal of the Bourke Public School, the PCYC, and a newly minted sponsor of the program - owner of the new North Bourke Hotel, Lindsay Curry.

Jack said having the community on board and the sponsorship support from Lindsay Curry made the future of the program in Bourke very promising.

Expanding the program to Bourke will be another step closer to fulfilling a much bigger goal for Jack - rolling out Bush to Beach in communities across the state and the nation.

Jack founded the Bush to Beach incentive program two decades ago, with youngsters from Brewarrina invited to take part in a trip to the northern beaches of Sydney if they hit targets in school attendance and behaviour.

He said the success of the Bre kids over the past two decades has been nothing short of inspirational, and now Jack and his team want to see the same results for children in Bourke.

“We want to set up Bush to Beach in Bourke because the need is here,” Jack said.

“The goal of the program is to improve school attendance and we want to help get the high school attendance up from where it is now.

“We want to see school attendance at 80 or 90 per cent and it may take a few years, but it is so important, for a child’s confidence and self-esteem and for their future.

“Education is the only way and we’ve seen those sorts of results in Bre. Now we want to help achieve that in Bourke,” he said. […]

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