A WOODEN boat, rope suspension bridge and a drama platform are just some of the exciting new additions to Penola’s McKay Children’s Centre’s outdoor play space, undertaken as part of an extensive redevelopment for the popular community facility.
According to centre director Jane Childs, while several local trades were engaged, the extensive improvements were made possible thanks to the support from both parents and the wider community.
“Parents, grandparents and community members – and their hundreds of volunteer hours – turned our ideas into a reality,” she said.
“Some of the newly created play spaces include a boat and sea space – thanks to the donation of Papa Teddy Williams’ wooden boat – a rope suspension bridge and drama platform made by Alastair Rowland and dam gates for the creek bed made by Bill Brand.
“Extra trees and plants were planted, with Iain Hetherington and John Tregenza undertaking the earth works and cementing and current parent Matt McGregor helping with plumbing.”
The old garden gate and red gum logs came from Penny and Michael Young, with other contributing volunteers including Colin Crouch, Tara Batt, Emma Bowen and Doug Bowen.
New flooring and painting throughout the centre is scheduled for the quieter month of January.
“The centre is so fortunate to have the support of a passionate community who are willing to step up and help, achieving outcomes that would not be possible without volunteer assistance,” she said.
In more exciting news for the centre, its recent assessment and rating against the National Quality Standards for Education and
Care in an early years setting saw both the childcare and kindergarten achieve a rating of excellent, current for three years.
“It is an absolute credit to the hardworking staff and vision and support from the governing council to achieve this rating,” Ms Childs said.
Over 40 confirmed kindergarten enrolments in 2019 will see childcare spaces increase as large groups of children move on.
