3RD PLACE | WAIKERIE
Here’s a report from Axel from the very first Waikerie 3rd Place:
On Thursday, July 31, Waikerie 3rd Place held its official opening and first gathering.
Waikerie 3rd Place, supported by Riverland Youth Theatre, Rotary Club of Waikerie and District Council of Loxton Waikerie, is a free hangout space for ages 13-18, where teens are welcome to make art, chat, listen to music, play games, connect, or just relax.
For the opening night, staff from Riverland Youth Theatre travelled from Renmark to support the Waikerie facilitators, Axel and Jai, and see the beginning of the fortnightly program.
With plenty of board games and art supplies, the teens had plenty to do, although the option to just sit and relax is welcomed at 3rd Place.
Across the night, there was drawing, games of jenga, snacking on chocolate, and conversations ranging from snakes to piercings to potential places to host 3rd Place in the future.
Both staff and teens alike were very excited about 3rd Place, and what’s in store for the next session.
A lovely start to what will become a thriving community space.
The next 3rd Place is Thursday, August 14, from 3pm-5pm at the Waikerie Community Room (12a Penaluna Crescent).
For more information, contact admin@ryt.org.au, immylochert@gmail.com, or 08 8586 3437.
To register follow this link: https://www.trybooking.com/DDAWX
August 14
An exciting second session!
Waikerie 3rd Place held its second session recently – with an increase of five new members!
A free hangout space for high school students, Waikerie 3rd Place offers a supervised space where teenagers are welcome to chat, play games, study, sit and relax, or whatever they choose to do!
With a bigger group in the space, 3rd Place was busy with drama games, uno, discussions covering everything from snacks to petting zoos, a few rounds of chasey and even some playing of the guitar.
The attendees had a lot of fun choosing how to spend their time – often enthusiastically bouncing from activities. The supervisors had a great time keeping track of what game the participants were playing at any moment.
There were also some important conversations about the purpose of 3rd Place, and what the young people would like to see in the future. Once assured that there will be snacks at the next session, the teens were already excited for next fortnight.
A fun-filled night that left 3rd Place eager for the next session!
Facilitated by the Riverland Youth Theatre and funded by the Rotary Club of Waikerie and District Council of Loxton Waikerie, Waikerie 3rd Place is held on fortnightly Thursdays from 3pm-5pm at the Waikerie Community Room (12a Penaluna Crescent, next door to the Men’s Shed).
August 28
A New Pet
The third session at Waikerie 3rd Place saw the return of four of our regular attendees and the introduction of a new ‘pet’ – Pinky the Beanbag Pig!
After settling in, potential names for Pinky the Pig were discussed while everyone got stuck into the new snacks and art supplies.
Once the name was decided (and the teens had the interesting challenge of attempting to eat their noodles with spoons) the attendees began their own game of hide ‘n’ seek.
It was a lot of fun for all, with conversations bouncing around the room and some guitar playing from one of the teens adding to the casual atmosphere.
With some intermissions of just relaxing, chatting, and snacking, the hide ‘n’ seek lasted most of the session.
3rd Place winded down with the teens choosing to sit down and start on some homework (much to the supervisors’ surprise) before heading home.
We were very happy to see that the teens are enjoying the space – and hope that next time will be just as much fun!
Waikerie 3rd Place is a free, relaxed space every fortnight for ages 12-18 to hang out, play games, chat, or do whatever they’d like, with friendly supervision.
The next 3rd Place with be on Thursday, September 11, from 3pm-5pm at the Waikerie Community Room (12a Penaluna Crescent, next to the Men’s Shed).
September 11
Chatting and colouring in
The fourth session of Waikerie 3rd Place was held on Thursday, September 11 and it was a relaxed afternoon.
Once the teens had arrived and settled in, we had our usual catch up and snack break (we discovered that instant noodles are our most popular snack, and the stock will need to be replenished).
Some of the participants had brightly coloured hair as result of Waikerie High School’s Greatest Shave event, which took place earlier that day, which was wonderful to see.
The session was quite laidback, with the teenagers choosing to mostly sit and chat, spending a bit of time outside.
Later, they played a quick game of hide ‘n’ seek, before sitting down to join the supervisors in some colouring-in.
Plenty of art supplies were available, giving the participants something to do while they wound down from the day, and allowing space for conversations about what the teens see in 3rd Place, and want they want in the future.
It was a great session, with the teens going home happy and the supervisors keen for the next fortnight.
Waikerie 3rd Place is a free, relaxed space every fortnight for ages 12-18 to hang out, play games, chat, or do whatever they’d like, with friendly supervision.
3rd Place also has snacks, games, and art supplies for the teens to use as much as they’d like, as well as a ‘pet’, Pinky the Beanbag Pig.
The next 3rd Place with be on Thursday, September 25, from 3pm-5pm at the Waikerie Community Room (12a Penaluna Crescent, next to the Men’s Shed).
For more information or to register, contact admin@ryt.org.au, immylochert@gmail.com, or 08 8586 3437.
September 25
Final Session of Term 3
On Thursday, September 25, the last 3rd Place session of Term 3 was held.
The session started off as usual with the participants arriving and settling in with snacks while filling in the supervisors on their last two weeks.
Eating snacks and chatting took up majority of 3rd Place, with the teens choosing to relax, happy to have some quiet time in the midst of the busy Term 3 wrap up.
Towards the end of the session some art supplies were picked up, with some quiet colouring in, before the teens decided to head outside.
The supervisors were happy to announce that after breaking for the school holidays, 3rd Place will be back on Thursday, October 23, and will then be running every week, rather than every fortnight.
3rd Place Waikerie is a free space open for ages 12-18 to come hang out, relax, socialise, play games, create art, or whatever else they choose to do, under friendly supervision from young adults.
Starting back on Thursday, October 23, 3rd Place runs on Thursdays from 3pm-5pm at the Waikerie Community Room (12a Penaluna Crescent, next to the Men’s Shed).
3rd Place also has snacks, games, and art supplies for the teens to use as much as they’d like, as well as a ‘pet’, Pinky the Beanbag Pig.
October 17
3rd Place is on Break
After an exciting term of getting set up and started, 3rd Place Waikerie is on break for the school holidays.
Term 3 consisted of getting settled into the new program and space, meeting participants, finding and naming a group pet (Pinky the Beanbag Pig), discovering what the teens want, having many discussions about everything from snakes to movies to clothes, and eating plenty of snacks.
Term 4 is looking to be even bigger and better, with sessions being moved up from fortnightly to weekly, and plans on the horizons for ways to bring the participants what they’re asking for.
However, whatever big plans may be brewing, 3rd Place Waikerie will still remain a relaxed space where teens can chat, make art, play games, eat snacks, and whatever else they’d like to do.
3rd Place Waikerie will reopen on Thursday, October 23, from 3pm-5pm, at the Waikerie Community Room, 12a Penaluna Crescent.
Supervisors Jai and Axel, and Pinky the Beanbag pig, will be there to start off Term 4 (with snacks, of course).
For ages 12-18, 3rd Place Waikerie is a free, relaxed, no-expectations space, for teens to hangout – a place to be that isn’t school or home.
October 23
3rd Place returned for the term on Thursday, October 23 and has been running weekly since.
With some of the teens on holiday over the past few sessions, the group has been smaller than usual, but as cheery and chatty as ever.
Pinky the Pig has become a group favourite, with some teens doing impressions of him that make the whole room crack up!
Of course, everyone has been enjoying snacking, colouring, drawing, and chatting as usual. Instant noodle cups are always a hit amongst the teens!
3rd Place Waikerie was also fortunate enough to receive a donation of board games and jigsaw puzzles, courtesy of the Waikerie Snack and Chat group.
Connect-4 has especially interested the teens – with even an attempt at a game of blindfolded Connect-4 taking place at the most recent session, which was equal parts suspenseful and hilarious to witness.
Throughout the weekly sessions, there’s been plenty of fun amongst the teens, and a lot of thoughts about the potential of 3rd Place’s future.
Continuing to grow 3rd Place as a youth hub and also expanding the nature of the space to potentially bring in some free workshops are on the minds of the supervisors at this time.
However, the heart of 3rd Place is within the teen participants, so listening to what they want is already the priority.
If that means continuing to hold open the space and keeping up a constant stock of noodles – then that’s what 3rd Place will be.
For ages 12-18, 3rd Place Waikerie is a free, relaxed, no-expectations space, for teens to hangout – a place to be that isn’t school or home, but a separate, third place.
There is no cost, and snacks, art supplies, board games, and puzzles are provided and are for all to use.
3rd Place is supervised by First Aid, CPR, and Mental Health First Aid certified young adults who are passionate about community connection and arts.
More than anything, 3rd Place is a space for teens to socialise, relax, and exist in a space without any planned activities or pressure.
Big thanks to Waikerie Rotary, the District Council of Loxton Waikerie, Rural Health Innovation Fund and Country SA PHN for supporting this program!
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