It was not a difficult decision for the students of the St Leonards Primary School to get involved in the campaign to save the St Leonards Pier. The pier has been at the heart of learning for the St Leonards Primary School community over many generations. Besides, it fitted perfectly with the ‘persuasive writing’ theme running through the whole-of-school literacy subject.
The letters students wrote to Bellarine MP Lisa Neville and to the Minister for Ports and Freight Melissa Horne; their drawings and creative stories, played a huge role in seeing the pier saved.
The pier had become pretty “dilapidated” as more than one student pointed out, while Penny was “flabbergasted that someone would think about letting the pier rot in shame.” Students shared their own stories and stories of the pier’s history, its marine creatures and habitat, its many uses and the meanings and memories it holds. Their arguments for saving it were very convincing.
The students own research discovered that the pier had been a part of the town’s history for over 160 years. And it seemed for many generations it has been a place to jump off, snorkel, investigate the rocks, fish, watch birds, photograph and ‘look after your mental health’. Some said ‘lots of people have spread the ashes of loved ones off the pier because that was their happy place . . .’
The wonders of the marine life under the pier, especially Big Bob the stingray without a stinger were of special importance. It was according to Rocco “a perfect habitat for animals such as seahorses and stingrays and many more things.” Having a safe place for the marine life was one of the main reasons students identified for saving the pier. Jasmin said “without the pier the sea life will move on to Portarlington Pier. And you don’t want that do you?”
Many of the reasons for saving the pier were personal, but mostly the students argued for the town and its community. Chloe said “the town is literally built around the pier. There will be no St Leonards town if there is no pier, everything will fall apart, bit by bit. The shops will close and houses will go and that’s why I’m writing this letter to you, for the town”. Ben, like many others, concluded his letter by saying “this wonderful pier is special to us in St Leonards. Thank you for listening to my point of view and reading my letter.”
St Leonards Progress Association writing competition winner Declan echoed the sentiments of many when he wrote in his remarkable story The Wings of The Ray “the pier holds a place in all of our hearts. It is the heart of a community. You can’t take it away . . .”
The significant role played by St Leonards Primary School in saving the pier, was acknowledged by Lisa Neville when she announced that $20.5 million would be spent to re-build it. The new Member for the Bellarine Alison Marchant, recently met with students to talk about the next stage of work to re-build the pier and invited the school to contribute design ideas. This prompted a flurry of great suggestions including, a glass viewing platform so everyone can see the marine life below, seats so people can sit and meditate, a slide and a diving board (but we won’t mention jumping). One important thing the students have asked for is that the marine life is not disturbed or destroyed while the new pier is being built. The St Leonards Primary School will make a project of pier design next year. I think we can expect some very creative ideas from our mighty shoal of Seahorses.
For more Humans in St Leonards stories got to https://humansinstleonards.com/
@humansinstleonards drawing by Meztacey and two from Declan’s Wings of the Ray
HuG 