Schools and businesses across the Bega Valley will be splashing themselves red on Friday, October 27 for Day for Daniel.
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The national event is to raise awareness of child safety and funds for the Daniel Morcombe Foundation.
Day for Daniel ambassador Melissa Pouliot said the region has be proactively involved in Day for Daniel since 2014.
Students across the region will wear red on Day for Daniel, including St Patrick’s Primary, Tathra Public School, Bega Valley Public School, Sapphire Coast Anglican College, Wolumla Public School, Merimbula Public School, Lumen Christ Catholic College, Pambula Public School, Eden Public School, Quaama Primary School and Bermagui Primary School.
Buses that transport children to and from school will take part in the red theme.
Businesses such as Telstra, Tathra Beachside and The Hub in Bega will also go red for the day, ensuring awareness on Day for Daniel extends beyond the classrooms.
“It’s one thing to have safety education in school, but bringing it to a shopfront takes the campaign out onto the street, which is really important for the rest of the wider community,” Ms Pouliot said.
She is encouraging groups and businesses in the Bega Valley to register an event with the Daniel Morcombe Foundation and wear red, educate and donate on Day for Daniel.
Cousins Jessica Dwyer and Amanda Twyford from The Hub in Bega are getting involved with Day for Daniel this year. Ms Twyford wants her children to be as safe as possible.
“I think it empowers communities to look after their kids,” she said.
“People are invited to come in and donate to the foundation, we will have some baked good available for purchase, or they can just come in for a conversation.”
Funds raised on Day for Daniel help develop the child safety education curriculum developed by the Daniel Morcombe Foundation. Teachers are supplied with resources and local police youth liaison officers will visit schools to discuss safety with children.
“What I’m most excited about this year the national safety lesson,” Ms Pouliot said.
“Each classroom will be able to log in to the lesson from their smartboard and the Morcombes will be streaming into the classroom to speak directly with the kids.”
Ms Pouliot added that the Morcombes have a significant connection to the area. Denise Morcombe holidayed in the area as a child, and they would bring Daniel to Merimbula and Pambula as a toddler.
In 2015, the Australian Federal Police National Missing Persons Coordination Centre and the Daniel Morcombe Keeping Kids Safe safety program made their first trip with Daniel’s Big Red truck, travelling from Canberra to the South Coast on a child safety education journey.
Businesses and groups can register an event on Day for Daniel on the Daniel Morcombe Foundation website.