Simon Cant

Simon Cant never thought he’d stay long in Warren when he first arrived – that was sixteen years ago. Now, the father of four says he would never dream of leaving. “I grew up in the Hunter region and I always thought I would end up back there,” Simon said. “But when I started work in Warren all those years ago, it took only a few hours before I fell in love with the Western Plains. “I love the space and the freedom and the intimacy of smaller towns.” It is his love of the land and the energy he has for the local community of Trangie that Simon Cant has been honoured as an Australians In Profile. Simon and wife Rachel are primary producers with holdings in the Warren and Trangie areas. Three of the couple’s four children – aged 12 through to three years – attend school in nearby Trangie, where they also attend a kids club – a once weekly Christian community-run initiative set up with the help of their father. Explaining the origins behind the kids club, Simon said that when his children started school, it became apparent there was a need for something more. “In a ‘whatever you like is ok’ world, kids are hungry for moral and spiritual guidance. Our kids club is more than just a youth group but certainly isn’t a polite Sunday school.” Simon said the club, now operating for three years, has a membership of around 50 children, with weekly attendance averaging at 35. “Most of the kids attend Trangie Central School where there’s just under 100 primary school aged kids – so we have around half the student population as members,” Simon said. While he was one of the team responsible for getting the club up and running, Simon said it would not have been possible without the support of the wider community. “I would like to acknowledge my wife Rachel, Debbie Irving, Brian Ford and the Anglican Church and Bill Peneha or ‘Uncle Bill’ as he’s known by the kids – they’ve all helped make the kids club the success that it has been and we look forward to many more years of success. “Each child has extraordinary potential in life. Our aim is to help them realise that potential,” Simon said. In selecting Simon as this month’s ‘Australians In Profile’ Senator Nash said she was impressed by the initiative demonstrated by Simon and the wider community in addressing what was an obvious need in the community. “One constant issue facing rural and regional communities is a lack of outside school hours activity for children, which can often lead to boredom among youth, which can lead to bigger social problems,” Senator Nash said. “By establishing a club like this, kids not only have the benefit of interaction with other children, but for those kids from one parent families, the club also allows them to interact with adult role models who may not otherwise be in their lives. “The initiative and the energy shown by Simon and all those behind the kids club in Trangie is certainly a credit to them and I congratulate them on their success.” Photo: Senator Nash met a number of people from the Warren district at a dinner in the town recently, including this month's Australians In Profile Simon Cant (far right)

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