Playcentre turns 75
Multiple generations of families reminisced as they turned out to celebrate three quarters of a century for a preschool in Palmerston North.
Park Rd Playcentre celebrated its 75th birthday on Saturday and past and present families went for the unveiling of a new whare for children to play in, while there was also birthday cake, a karakia and waiata.
Parent Nadia Fovakis helped organise the event.
Her son George, 4, attends the playcentre, while her twins Yianni and Alexia, 9, both went there.
‘‘We have invited our members and life members to let them come back and we’ve opened things up,’’ Fovakis said.
‘‘It’s a chance for the previous members to reminisce.’’
Parents and grandparents returned years after their families had been involved.
‘‘They are loving seeing the children that are here now doing something very similar to what their children were doing many years ago.
‘‘It’s lovely to see parents and children who have just left and gone to school, they’re back again.’’
Fovakis was given strict instructions from daughter Alexia on how to make one of the celebratory cakes.
Anne Palmer’s family has been involved at Playcentre for three generations. She was a supervisor from 1986 to 1996.
Her three children Elena, Juliana and Gian all went to the centre, and her granddaughter Aria was there briefly too.
There are about 20 children enrolled at the preschool today.