One student’s passion for unicycling has enabled nearly 100 children to learn the unique skill.
Oliver Morton, a Year 10 Nelson College Student, first started riding a unicycle when he was a Hampden Street School pupil.
“When I went to the school I talked to the principal, and we managed to get some unicycles for the school.
“I’ve always been enthusiastic about unicycles so that was a way of spreading my interests and getting my friends involved and it’s grown into a really strong community today.”
Oliver says it took quite a bit of time to get good at it.
“It’s certainly very challenging but the rewards are really wonderful.”
As part of his school business studies, Oliver was tasked with undertaking a project that added value to a product.
He chose to add value to tea towels by asking Hampden Street School pupils to draw pieces of art to be printed on them as a memory for both parents and students.
Oliver sold more than 300 tea towels which raised more than $1000. That allowed him to purchase four new unicycles and helmets for his old school as well as donating funds to the Fifeshire Foundation.
“I’ve been brought up to value the importance of giving back to your community, so if you have the time or money to donate to a good cause it’s really worthwhile. I see students unicycling around on the way to school which is really cool.”
Student Bree Dell says it’s been a challenging thing to learn.
“Balancing is one of the trickiest things for me, definitely. How I start is holding onto the walls.”
Josie Harding agrees and says the challenge is what makes it enjoyable.
“It was really hard when I fell off and saw my friends unicycling back and forth,” she says.
School sports leader Tom Marston estimates around a fifth of the school’s pupils now ride unicycles.
“Oliver started a momentum and now there’s kids riding them at every break time and taking them home in the weekends.”
Tom says Oliver’s character makes him a pupil the school could always be proud of.
“He was an absolute asset to the school - he would inspire people and we could always count on him.”
Tom says when the new unicycles turned up the kid’s eyes sparked with excitement.
“I can’t stress enough how significant this is, unicycles cost a lot, on a PE budget and maintenance, it’s a big expense.”
