Anglesea Primary sets sights on a new playground

A NEW playground at Anglesea Primary School is in the works as the coastal school’s numbers continue to grow.

Anglesea Primary has seen 40 new students join its campus over the last four years, putting the small Surf Coast campus at full capacity.

There are 162 students enrolled at the school according to principal Murray Surkitt and a new playground would provide more space to accommodate the play of students during recess and lunch.

“A new playground would allow more students to become healthier and more physically active here at Anglesea,” Mr Surkitt said.

“It will also enable the school to better cater to the social and educational needs of all students including those with a disability or special needs. It will also allow the students to learn through play.”

Mr Surkitt estimates the school’s new playground will cost approximately $160,000 and has already submitted several applications to state government in a bid to secure government funding, including a grant from the Victorian Government’s Inclusive Schools Fund.

The primary school’s parents have also been doing their best to secure funding, but COVID-19 has consistently pushed back their plans with numerous fundraising events cancelled.

President of the Anglesea Primary School Parents Club, Marcelle Renkin, said students were notifying parents of a rostered system that was used to decide which students were allowed to use of the school’s only playground.

“There is only one playground equipment area at the school and it is clear that there has been a big increase in numbers at the school,” Ms Renkin said.

“But the school also has a wonderful, big, imaginative play space area which lends itself as a natural playground that parents have fundraised for in the past. So that helped The Parents Club come to a decision to start fundraising for a new playground.”

The parents club’s original plan to start raising funds for the new playground began three months ago when the group was set to host its School & Community Winter Gala on August 28 after their yearly fundraiser was cancelled in March.

“We usually hold our annual fundraiser at the Village Fair every year, which has been the case for the past nine years.” Ms Renkin said.

That event was postponed, and a new event aptly named the “Mask-arade” Ball was set to take place later this month on November 20. But again, due to COVID-19 restrictions, plans to fundraise have cancelled.

Ms Renkin said the club quickly pivoted to create its own stall at the Anglesea Twilight Farmer’s Market last Friday where more funds were raised.

If you would like to help Anglesea Primary attain their new playground get in touch with Ms Renkin at the Anglesea Community House for more information.