Youth call for more in Leongatha
WHAT is it like being a teenager living in a country town like Leongatha?
Locals might say Leongatha is a great country town but for young people there isn’t much to do in Leongatha when your parents can’t take you somewhere or the bus won’t get you there until really late in the afternoon.
Maybe it’s time the Leongatha community got something in their town to safely facilitate young people and people of all ages.
When asked what facilities they think Leongatha needs for young people, Megan Thorn, 15 said,
“While Leongatha has a great sporting culture there is not a lot to do outside of sporting hours. An open area where young people could get together and feel safe, similar to Federation Square, close to the CBD would be a great start.
“In my experience I have struggled with poor public transport connections around the Gippsland area with some connecting services having waiting times of up to four hours. This is a security concern for young people who are travelling by themselves and discourages the use of public transport.”
Mason McGannon, 16 said, “I think Leongatha needs a shopping centre not only for young people but for everyone to use.”
Many people who have lived in this quiet town for many years might see the idea for new facilities as pointless, but this is the direction our younger generation is seeking.
For example, a shopping centre would attract people from all over Gippsland and if the available public transport was increased then young people without a driver’s licence would be able to travel to the centre as well.
Supplying facilities for young people is really important as it would give them something to do during the school holidays or on weekends when parents are still working.
It’s time to get people off the couch and out the door socialising with their friends in person rather than through a screen.
Social time: from left, Chelsea Markley and Leeah O’Meara enjoy a coffee at Sweet Life Cafe in Leongatha.
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Posted by Tayla Kershaw on Jul 25 2017. Filed under Community. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry
