Dardanup Shire rangers swap parking tickets for cupcakes to spark positive conversation about safe parking

Parents making the school drop-off within the Shire of Dardanup were in for a sweet surprise when rangers swapped issuing parking tickets for gifting cupcakes. To acknowledge World Kindness Day, Dardanup Shire rangers surprised parents making the school drop-off at Glen Huon Primary School, Eaton Primary School and Dardanup Primary School with World Kindness Day cupcakes on Monday. The rangers greeted parents in school zones with cupcakes instead of tickets, creating an opportunity for positive conversations and reminders about parking safely. Dardanup Shire president Mick Bennett said parking in school zones was universally at a premium during these periods and the volume of traffic, which often led to parents parking in no standing zones, on verges and footpaths, creating a safety hazard for pedestrians and cyclists also navigating the area. “This is a tough issue because there are frustrations associated with finding an appropriate place to park and it is something we are always working with the schools and the community on,” he said. “Ultimately we want to protect the safety of everyone using the roads — particularly during these busy and high risk periods. “Sometimes that means our rangers need to hand out fines but we saw this as a great opportunity to approach the situation a bit differently and to spread a bit of good will while raising awareness at the same time.” World Kindness Day is observed internationally on November 13 and in 2022 is celebrating its 25th anniversary, having been introduced by a coalition of nations (including Australia) known as the World Kindness Movement in Japan in 1998. The day aims to highlight good deeds in the community, focusing on the positive power and the common thread of kindness.