Spring into school holiday inspiration

By Tina Seirlis

With September school holidays fast approaching, local parents and guardians are facing the age-old question of how to keep their kids occupied.

For some, the idea of school holidays may be viewed with wonderful nostalgia, the idea of quality family time, an escape from the everyday routine where there is no longer a need to come up with interesting, packed lunches, or constantly wash, dry and iron uniforms.

These wise ones have already thought ahead and long ago booked a holiday or planned a road trip to a destination with sunnier skies. Working parents with annual leave available may have locked in school holiday programs or arranged outings and time with nan and pop. For the rest there is that nervous anticipation already brewing, a cold sweat forming on their brows as the nagging miniature ghosts of school holidays past repeatedly echo ‘I’m bored’.

To help support locals that are ‘staycationing’ right here at home in Moorabool Shire during the last two weeks of September, The Moorabool News has collated a range of nil to low-cost ideas to help keep young people entertained, and wherever possible, outdoors.

Arrange a picnic or playdate at local parks with lots of space to run, skate or cycle.

• Egan’s Reserve, Greendale
• Mill Park, Ballan
• Maddingley Park, Bacchus Marsh
• Rotary Park, Bacchus Marsh
• Moon Reserve, Bacchus Marsh

Explore local walks, waterfalls and mineral springs

• Spargo Creek Mineral Springs
• Blackwood Mineral Springs Reserve
• Ballan Mineral Springs at Bostock Reservoir
• Lal Lal Falls
• Moorabool Falls, Lal Lal
• Granite Falls, Lal Lal
• Triassic Trench, Bacchus Marsh
• Werribee Gorge, Pentland Hills
• Long Forest Flora and Fauna Reserve
• Mackenzies Flat Picnic Area
• Boar Gully – Brisbane Ranges, Balliang

Fishing and fun at popular and hidden gem local reservoirs.

• Pykes Creek Reservoir
• Bostock Reservoir, Ballan
• Bolwarrah Reservoir
• Moorabool Reservoir, Spargo Creek
• Colbrook Reservoir (4wd only)

Moorabool Shire Council’s libraries and youth teams are also providing a range of programs to keep everyone busy during the school holidays.

More information is available on Council’s website across activities that include library craft sessions, Lego Masters, skateboard art, a movie night and a silent disco.