By Brendan Rees
At just 12 years-old, Shannon Underwood is leading a charge to reduce the speed limit on a road in Lysterfield South to save wildlife.
The Grade 6 student started a petition to combat the number of wildlife, particularly kangaroos that are injured or killed on Churchill Park Drive.
She was inspired to bring about change after undertaking a school project.
“We had to do something about ourselves either personal change or a community change,” Shannon says. “I wanted to help the community somehow; I was really interested in helping the animals.”
She said the current sign warning motorists of wildlife on Churchill Park Drive didn’t go far enough: “I just want to make it a safer place for the kangaroos.”
The road, which is currently 70 km/h, is surrounded by bushland and Churchill Park Golf Club, causing animals to be vulnerable on the road.
Shannon said “it felt really good” to garner 110 signatures in support of her petition thanks to the help of the community and her teachers at Caulfield Grammar School.
The petition was presented to Casey Council during a meeting on 5 March which council officers will now investigate.
“I wanted to do something that would set in place a rule that would make it safer,” Shannon says.
Shannon also organised a picnic day last August where she set up a stall called Kookies for Kangaroos to help raise money for local kangaroo rescuer, Sue’s Kangaroo Rescues.
With the help of her mum Maree, Shannon baked cookies and other sweets to sell at her stall, raising $1,020.
“I knew that the stall would be a small part. It makes me all the more confident of my worthy course,” she said.
Mum Maree said she couldn’t be prouder, adding it was great Shannon was “creating community awareness.”
“She’s always been passionate about animals; I thought this was the best way for her to do it,” she said.
Shannon’s school project was always going to be “based around animals,” Maree added.
A report will come back to council in May.
