mmg.com.au

The Outside Of School Hours (OOSH) vacation care program has been teaching fire safety to children as a timely reminder of the skills required when confronted with a blaze.

It’s an ideal time, considering more than 100 fires have been burning throughout NSW in recent weeks, OOSH assistant Rachel Bull said.

‘‘We were trying to make them aware of fire safety and what the fire brigade does.’’

Miss Bull said Rural Fire Service Mid-Murray Zone community safety officer Inspector Doug Adamson gave each child a turn at operating the fire hose on Tuesday.

This included making a ball roll on the ground to show the pressure it has, she explained.

The OOSH program has increased and is now averaging 40 people a day, compared to 30 children at the start of January.

OOSH offers various fun activities for kids to get involved in, including a lot of time spent outdoors while also being ‘‘sun smart’’.

In coming weeks OOSH activities will include a treasure hunt, a dress up day, Chinese lantern making and much more.

OOSH is being held in the old hall at Edward Public School while its new premises is under construction.

The new premises, adjacent the Intereach Neighborhood Centre in Trickett St, is expected to be completed in April. The program is co-ordinated by Intereach.