New life for playspace

By Lachlan Ellis

A local primary school has celebrated the completion of a new ‘Community Village Playspace’, holding a grand opening day this month.

St. Patrick’s Primary School Gordon hosted the grand opening day very fittingly on St. Patrick’s Day (17 March), welcoming parents from the three occupations represented by new cubbies – a police station, a vet clinic, and a café – to cut ribbons.

The commemoration started with a song about community and working together, and finished with enjoying some cupcakes in school colours.

St. Patrick’s Principal Paul McDowell said it was an exciting time for the school.

“The three new cubby houses were chosen by the children in a poll, they thought a police station is part of our community, a vet is part of our community, and of course the general store is part of our community. The theme of the playground, as the plaque says, is ‘let your imagination fly’,” Mr McDowell told the Moorabool News.

“The kids have been waiting nine weeks. Every day they’ve asked ‘can we play, can we play’, but they understand that it took time. They’re very excited. The movement and excitement are great, and the sharing of the space is what we want to do, ‘it’s not my space it’s our space’ is the understanding there.

“Originally it was a barren paddock, there was nothing there, so it’s invigorated the whole yard. We also plan to open a passive play space, we’ll start once we get out of Term 1 heading into Term 2.”

The playspace also contains a new sandpit and blackboards, and a magnetic water wall will also be added in the future.

Mr McDowell thanked the Moorabool Wind Farm for the grant it provided back in September last year to make the Community Village Playspace possible, and the Parents & Friends Association at the school for the “countless hours” sourcing quotes and coordinating the works.