New Times - May 2012 - Toil and time: volunteers share their stories

Playgroup in the Park - an annual event held at the Semaphore foreshore each year to celebrate Children's Week - won ‘Event of the Year’ as part of the Australia Day Awards from the City of Port Adelaide Enfield.

Playgroup in the Park is a totally free event put on by churches in the Western Suburbs where playgroup aged children can blow bubbles, create crafts, finger paint, eat and play for hours - with thousands of other children.

Though concerned that rainy weather may be a deterrent for the 29 October gathering, the warmth of the downpour ensured that crowds still flocked to the seaside location. Between 3-4,000 people attended over the course of the event - families were dancing in the rain and no frowns could be seen, only smiles. Kathy Blazewicz, one of the key event organisers even commented that, “It was like we had all been baptised.”

Rev Sue Ellis and Kathy accepted the award on behalf of the Playgroup in the Park committee and the community of the City of Port Adelaide/Enfield.

A resounding congratulations to all those who participated in running this event: congregations from West Lakes, Woodville, Semaphore, Port Adelaide, Lefevre Peninsula, Western Link, Henley Fulham and Grange. Each group will receive a replica of the award; the original will be given to the Mission Resourcing Network for display in the Uniting Church SA office.

Playgroup in the Park will be held again this year on Friday 28 October, 2011.

 

Snapshots of Playgroup