Boogurlarri centre given rocking horse made by Canning Vale prisoners

9/4/99
Canning Vale Remand Centre prisoners are helping put smiles on the faces of children.
Attorney General Peter Foss this afternooon presented a rocking horse made by the prisoners to children at the Boogurlarri Children's Services centre in Langford.
Boogurlarri is the first organisation to receive a rocking horse. Horses will also be presented to Princess Margaret Hospital and Mercy Community Services (formerly known as the Catherine McAulay Family Centre).
"Remand prisoners at Canning Vale have been busy building the horses," Mr Foss said.
"The initiative is being supported by Bunnings which has donated the building materials.
"Limited programs can be offered at the remand centre due to the fact prisoners are often not there for long periods of time. This program is something worthwhile and relatively easy which prisoners can participate in without requiring extensive training."
Remand Centre Assistant Superintendent Prisoner Management Leon Carberry came up with the idea of teaching prisoners to build the horses and turned to local suppliers for support.
"The program is a perfect example of prisons and industry working together to the benefit of the community," Mr Foss said.
"The horses are extremely well made and are very durable. Prisoners complete the whole process, cutting out designs, assembling the horse, attaching the manes and gluing on the plastic eyes."
The prisoners were enthusiastic about the project which gave them a sense of achievement. To give prisoners a greater ownership of the project they were asked to nominate charities they wanted the horses to go to.
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