Fitzroy childcare kids collect own milk as dairy farmers schools campaign steps up

The call for free milk to return to Victorian schools has received plenty of support. But these kids from a Fitzroy childcare centre aren’t waiting for politicians to step in.

East West childcare centre uses milk from St David Dairy. The kids walk around to the dairy and pick up their milk which is in glass bottles. From left, Lucien, 3, Huon, 4, Claude, 3, Lina, 3. Picture: Mark Stewart

The kids at East West Child Care aren’t waiting for the Government to roll out a free milk program; they’ve taken matters into their own little hands.

It’s part of the regular weekly routine of the children at the Fitzroy centre to walk with a supervisor to the nearby St David Dairy and collect their milk.

Childcare educator Regina Roney said the children loved the walk through Fitzroy to fill glass bottles with fresh milk, and the activity provided the kids with exercise as well as connecting them to their community.

They also enjoyed drinking the fresh milk at morning tea time, and staff at the centre believed it was important for the children to get a daily dose of calcium and other nutrients.

United Dairyfarmers of Victoria president Paul Mumford - who last week called for the return of a free milk program across all Victorian schools - said his proposal had received a lot of support and got people talking.

East West childcare centre uses milk from St David Dairy. The kids walk around to the dairy and pick up their milk which is in glass bottles. L to R Mina, 3, Remy, 5, Ava, 5. Picture: Mark Stewart

Farmers were now stepping up their campaign by writing to Victorian politicians and asking them to reintroduce a free milk program, to boost the struggling dairy industry and kids’ health.

Mr Mumford said he was hoping to get milk processors on board and persuade the State Government to introduce a pilot program into a handful of Victorian schools, at the very least.

But both the State and Federal governments told the Sunday Herald Sun they had no plans to reintroduce the free milk program, pointing to their Breakfast Club program for disadvantaged students and healthy school canteen guidelines respectively.

East West childcare centre uses milk from St David Dairy. The kids walk around to the dairy and pick up their milk which is in glass bottles. Huon, 4. Picture: Mark Stewart

Mr Mumford said the Breakfast Club program actually provided the perfect framework for delivery of a free milk program to all primary school students.

“The Victorian dairy industry has a ‘can do’ attitude. If there are barriers in front of Government, then we will find a way,” he said.

Healthy Bones Action Week starts tomorrow, with Dairy Australia calling for all children to aim for strong bones by getting enough calcium from foods like dairy, participating in regular weight-bearing exercise and getting vitamin D safely from the sun.

Research shows most Australian children do not consume enough dairy for good health and maintenance of strong bones.