Fundraising fervour: Narrogin Children and Families Incorporated sets sights on regional playgroup hub

Narrogin Children and Families Incorporated is energised and enthused as it prepares to undertake a fundraising campaign geared towards establishing a new regional playground and parent hub. Presided over by Kellie Wilkins, the group has seen its numbers swell as like-minded community members get on board to realise a shared goal. “We had our first AGM on August 30 and we had a massive turnout, huge,” Ms Wilkins said. “We’ve got a powerhouse of people from all different walks of life and all different ages, it’s been amazing. “It just shows how much it’s needed, now what we’re going to do is start fundraising.” Ms Wilkins said that NCFI, of which the Narrogin Independent Playgroup is a key stakeholder, came about in response to community need and the realisation that the playgroup’s current home is no longer suitable. “There are a lot of groups around town that don’t really have a stable location and they’re all trying to reach the same people,” she said. “We’re trying to combine all of the amazing people in this town that are trying to service the same groups to create a stable, inclusive, collaborative children’s centre for Narrogin and surrounds. “We had to have our inter-generational playgroup at the senior citizens centre last week because this building isn’t accessible. “We need to make sure that our centre is accessible so that we can be having those kinds of events regularly, the ideas are there and people want to do it.” It is envisaged that the new facility will provide a range of services to the community along with playgroup such as a toy library, a space for parents for parents groups to meet and provisions for new mothers. “We don’t have educators, we’re just looking to do the playgroup side and establish a hub,” Ms Wilkins said. “Especially for out-of-towners, things like breast feeding rooms for visiting people because being central as we are we get a lot.” NCFI secretary Catherine Thornton said that playgroup catered for children as well as parents as they provided opportunities for all to socialise, engage and experience a sense of community, “Daycare is early childhood education,” she said. “Playgroup is about play-based learning, activities focused on gross motor development, fine motor development, socialisation which extends to the parents,” she said. “It offers support which is especially important if you live regionally and you’re out on the farm.” The decision to build a new facility was borne of necessity. “We’ve done a lot of research into existing buildings around town but with a lot of the grant funding we need to build new,” Ms Wilkins said. “We can’t get many grants to renovate existing buildings and to renovate a lot of the buildings around town, to renovate you’d basically have to demolish and start again which isn’t viable.” The group will start its fundraising campaign this month with stalls at the Narrogin Flaming BBQ Festival and the Narrogin Agricultural Show and a raffle with a massive prize provided by Narrogin Country Fresh Meats and the Narrogin Fruit Market will open soon. “The first prize is $5000 worth of goods, $2,500 from each business,” Ms Wilkins said. “In the lead-up to Christmas it’s perfect timing.” Anyone able to donate time, service, skills or sponsorship to the project is invited to call Ms Wilkins on 0427 297 278.