By KATH GANNAWAY
THE return to kinder for Launching Place Preschool’s more than 50 children was more exciting than ever this term.
Over the holidays a new playground had, it seemed, magically appeared!
In fact, the magic came from an $11,000 grant from the Woori Yallock and District Community Bank and a lot of hard work by parent Kalli Blunt and the preschool’s inspired playground builder.
Bank board member Lyn Collier was given a huge welcome on the first week back after the holidays as she cut the ribbon to officially open the playground.
Ms Collier said the local Bendigo Bank branch was a big supporter of education facilities in the area.
“There are a lot of kids coming here from all around the district, so we were very pleased to be able to provide a new playground which will benefit so many of the area’s youngsters,” she said.
Ms Blunt and pre-school educational leader Cath Wood said they were thrilled with the new equipment which includes a cubby and a wooden boat which is large enough to use as an outdoor reading space.
“The children will benefit from a lot of physical play with this equipment but also language, social development and a lot of imaginative play,” Ms Wood said.
She said it would have taken about five years of fundraising to raise the money needed to build the playground.
“This will be a benefit for our children for the next 20 years,” she said.
