Former Albany Secondary Education Support Centre student Angus Tetlow lends a hand for breakfast club

For the past six weeks, 21-year-old Angus Tetlow has lent a helping hand to Albany Secondary Education Support Centre, doing the shopping for his former school’s breakfast club. On Monday mornings Angus takes the trolley for a spin around North Road Supa IGA with special needs education assistant Sue Bassett, purchasing things like fruit, yoghurt, bread and eggs for the daily breakfast. Ms Bassett, who worked with Angus over his five years at the school, said Angus enjoys helping the school. “The breakfast club has been running for a few years and sometimes the school has struggled with getting ingredients delivered or not having time for someone to go grab them, so Angus is a huge help here,” she said. “It gives him a bit of an important job to do and he enjoys it. “He is a bit of a cool dude though, trying to hold the trolley with only two fingers and waving at everyone as we go down the aisles.” The breakfast club serves about 30 meals a morning, with options including pancakes, ham and cheese toasties and fruit, prepared by staff with assistance from students of the Kitchen to Garden class. All ingredients for the club are donated by North Road Supa IGA. The shopping activity is done partly to tick the social engagement portion of Angus’ NDIS funding criteria. He also attends bingo, a social catch-up, and visits the staff at Clark’s Newsagency, who are learning the same keyword sign language Angus uses. Ms Bassett said her time with Angus, who she also sees on Tuesdays, is very rewarding. “I was a hairdresser for many years before doing this and I love it,” she said. “It’s so lovely to see the progress of the kids over the years. “Angus is an extraordinary young man and even though he is non-verbal, we communicate quite well and have a great time together.”