DONNYBROOK District High School student Tommy Galonski, 12, has kickstarted an initiative at the Mead Street Primary School campus to help kids who are looking for a bit of company.
The buddy bench initiative provides a space at schools where kids go and sit when they're feeling at a loose end or in need of some company but don't want to approach anyone.
Tommy first found out about the buddy bench idea when his mother, Maryann Galonski, found a link on Donnybrook woman Mandy Anderson's website about the initiative, which started in Germany and spread to America.
Mrs Galonski said she read the story to Tommy, who thought it was a great idea.
She had intended to go to the school with it but Tommy beat her to it and went and talked about it with teacher Mike Armstrong.
Tommy's teacher's aide Peta Murphy made the sign for the bench, and Tommy talked about it to the school at the final assembly last year.
"It's been respected and used for the right thing," Mr Armstrong said.
Tommy said the bench was great and had been helping kids.
