‘Hold my Hand’ reminder at Federation Playgrounds

Published on 12 November 2019

Federation Council has partnered with The Little Blue Dinosaur Foundation for its 'Hold My Hand' campaign, which aims to encourage parents and carers to hold their child's hand when they are close to roadways.

The colourful signage has been installed at playgrounds across the Federation Council including Corowa, Mulwala, Howlong, Oaklands and Urana. 

Federation Mayor, Councillor Patrick Bourke said, “Council was pleased to be working with the Little Blue Dinosaur Foundation to help keep children safe.”

"Children can be very excitable and unpredictable and are unable to make safe choices around roadways and traffic.”

"These signs are a great reminder for parents and carers to hold a child's hand as they leave our playgrounds.  We must hold their hands right up until age 10, and supervise them closely until they are 12."

The Little Blue Dinosaur Foundation was established in memory of four-year-old Tom McLaughlin, who tragically passed away in a pedestrian road crash while on a Central Coast family vacation in 2014.

Foundation Founder and CEO Michelle McLaughlin said, “I am delighted Federation Council would be erecting the signs around the many playgrounds and parks in the area.”  

“We now have 39 councils in four states of Australia working with us to spread our child pedestrian safety messages.”

"We lost our precious son, Tom in the blink of an eye.  We don’t want this to happen to anyone else.  The cost – emotional and financial – is just too high. That’s why the 'Hold My Hand' message is so important,” she said.