Bringing stories to life with costumes

THANKS to generous support from the Alcoa Foundation, United Way Glenelg is proud to announce the expansion of its existing Costume Lending Library to include a new collection of culturally diverse costumes.

As part of the costume library refresh, located at Glenelg Libraries, up to 10 underused costumes will be donated to Casterton Playgroup and replaced with new character costumes inspired by beloved children’s stories from around the world.

These costumes will reflect a broader range of cultural backgrounds, enabling children to engage in inclusive and imaginative play that celebrates global perspectives.

United Way Glenelg executive officer Nicole Carr said they were thrilled to give their costume library a vibrant new direction.

“These additions will encourage children to connect with diverse characters and experiences,” Ms Carr said. “It’s a powerful way to support both literacy and cultural understanding in classrooms and across our community.

“The refreshed character costumes will be available to borrow in time for Book Week, making it the perfect opportunity to celebrate global stories and imaginative play.”

Portland Aluminium has welcomed the opportunity to be involved in this initiative.

“At Alcoa, inclusion and diversity are core to how we work and who we are,” said Werner van Schalkwyk, Plant Manager, Portland Aluminium.

“Supporting programs that reflect and celebrate cultural diversity is something we’re proud to be part of.”

Alcoa’s Wagerup Alumina Refinery Manager Paul Kuczma said as a regional lead for AWARE (Alcoans Woking Actively for Racial-Ethnic Equality), he was proud to see Alcoa supporting initiatives that help children connect with diverse cultures through play.

“These costumes aren’t just fun – they’re a way to spark curiosity, build empathy, and celebrate the stories that shape who we are,” he said.

The costume library is available to families across the Glenelg Shire through Glenelg Libraries.

The project builds on the success of United Way Glenelg’s Read Across Glenelg program, where Portland Aluminium employees visit local kindergartens and primary schools to read books from Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.

Photo: Portland Aluminium Employee Richard Clark and his grandson Rhodes Clark.