Theft of bench from Canning Vale school buddy awful thing to do

CANNING Vale Primary School’s buddy bench was stolen from the school’s playgrounds and information is wanted as to where it has gone.

School principal Phillippa Berkhout said the buddy bench was used as a part of a resilience program where students could sit and make friends.

“We try very hard to make school a happy environment for everyone. One of our business plan targets is to decrease the percentage of students who struggle with making and maintaining friendships.”

She said the Rotary Club of Freshwater Bay donated the bench to the school after school patron Dr Ken Collins learned about the school’s program.

“The children painted it in bright stripes and it was well used. Then disaster struck and it has been stolen from our school,” she said.