07 Sep 2016 Alexandra Eildon Marysville Standard, Alexandra VIC (General News) STUDENTS in Northern Victoria will be served up Victorian milk from next year, under a new deal to boost the states struggling dairy industry and help support regional jobs, Labor Upper House Member for Northern Victoria, Jaclyn Symes, announced recently. Pactum Dairy Group in Shepparton will exclusively supply milk to the School Breakfast Clubs program from 2017. Ms Symes, Breakfast Club Ambassador, said School Breakfast Clubs provide a free breakfast to up to 25,000 children in 500 Victorian Government primary schools, setting children up to concentrate and learn so they can reach their full potential. The new deal will see dairy farmers in the Murray Goulburn region supply around 400,000 litres of milk a year to the program, benefiting the 130 farms in the district who supply Pactum Dairy. From next year School Breakfast Clubs will also include 80 tonnes of Australian grown baked beans from SPC Ardmona in Shepparton each year. Ms Symes said the Labor Government has partnered with Foodbank the largest welfare food agency in Australia to establish and lead the state-wide School Breakfast Clubs program, using their existing warehousing, storage and freight network. The $13.7 million program is another example of the Labor Government building the Education State to ensure every child, regardless of their postcode, has access to a first-rate education. Not only are northern Victorian students getting a healthy start to the day through the School Breakfast Clubs Program, were also helping support Victorian dairy farmers and local industry, Ms Symes said. One in seven Victorian children arrives at school on an empty stomach affecting their ability to concentrate and learn. The School Breakfast Clubs in our schools ensure that every student starts the day on a full stomach so they can concentrate and reach their full potential by using Victorian dairy and food suppliers we can also help boost jobs and industry. The schools which will be included in the program in our area are: Flowerdale Primary School, Marysville Primary School, Alexandra Primary School and Eildon Primary School. Licensed by Copyright Agency. You may only copy or communicate this work with a licence