Rotary exports more childhood fun
PLAY equipment from Wandana Heights’ Drewan Park is set to bring joy to the children of a small island off Rabaul in Papua New Guinea.
It is the fifth playground the City of Greater Geelong has donated through the Rotary Overseas Recycled Playgrounds (RORP) program.
All the equipment from Drewan Park has been dismantled and is in storage, ready to be sent to the island village of Kilalun this year.
Deputy Mayor Kylie Grzybek said the council was proud to be a part of a program that strongly delivered on a goal to be a more sustainable region with a global focus.
“It also presents us with another way that we can support those in need where we can, even on an international level,” Cr Grzybek said.
“We look forward to seeing the Drewan Park play equipment arrive in Kilalun for the children there to enjoy for years to come.
“I thank our local Rotary clubs for delivering this program and for their ongoing invaluable work in the community.”
The RORP program has collected more than 40 playgrounds from across Victoria and sent them to Timor Leste, Fiji, PNG, Tanzania and Sri Lanka.
The council is working with the Rotary clubs of Highton, Ocean Grove and Geelong Central to co-ordinate this latest playground donation.
Ocean Grove Rotarian Rod
Greer said the RORP program had been a huge success.
“When we started this project with a playground from Leopold sent to Sri Lanka, we had no idea that within a couple of years we would have managed to send so many playgrounds overseas,” he said.
“It is a most rewarding community program for all involved to see a playground destined for landfill to find a new home, where the delight on the children is evident in their smiles.”