Play Centre News

Glendale This Play Centre was established to provide pre-school education for a number of children in this new and fast-growing area of Wainuiomata. At the first meeting held in December 1964, the interest shown by parents was so great that in a very short time a Committee was formed, fund-raising got under way, and, thanks to the initial donation of £100 from the Maori Club of the Wellington Training College, the Centre was able to start in February 1965. At the original meeting it was agreed that the Union Church Hall would be used; that initially two play sessions would be held each week; that the roll would have equal numbers of Maori and Pakeha children; and that the Supervisor would be Mrs Eleanor Hetet. Interested parents then spent a very busy few weeks purchasing necessary equipment, erecting a fence around the play area, and building a sandpit. Their efforts were well rewarded because from its first day, the Centre has been a tremendous success. The play sessions have increased to three a week—on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday mornings—and these have now become a social outlet for many mothers who come along to the Centre for coffee and a chat in the Mothers' Corner, and to stay to play with the children till the session is over. Mothers are encouraged to visit the Centre and it is quite common to find one or two prams with infants, a few strollers with toddlers, a toddler in the high chair of playpen, and Maori and Pakeha mothers cosily settled in the Mothers' Corner while the children carry on with their various activities. It is most interesting and encouraging to find that although all the mothers take their turn at ‘mother-helping’, they also find pleasure in visiting the Centre on other days. This warm friendly atmosphere has been created largely by the Supervisor who has encouraged all parents to take an interest in the Centre. Fathers take an active part, particularly on Fathers' Day, and on ‘working bees’ when the equipment is repaired. An enthusiastic Committee has been elected, and this includes several Maori mothers—Mrs Ann Andrews, who with her husband, is the Equipment Officer, Mrs Wilma Wild, Secretary, and Mrs Cissy Paea, Social Officer. One Maori mother, Mrs Marie Cribb, has almost, completed her Supervisor-training course and several other mothers have now started a similar course, thus ensuring that the Supervisor will have a trained staff of helpers to call on. From the opening day the roll has been maintained at the maximum of thirty children, and there is a large waiting list of both Maori and Pakeha children. Fund-raising schemes have included raffles, stalls, rag drives, dances; and a children's film show held on a rainy Saturday made £30. Several outings have been made, and one of the most popular was a visit to the Maori Meeting House at Waiwhetu. The official opening of Glendale Play Centre was held in September 1965. Mrs E. Jacobson of the Hutt-Wairarapa Association congratulated the Centre on becoming so firmly established in such a short time and made particular mention of the excellent participation of mothers in the play sessions—their willingness to work with the children and to listen and talk to them. She also congratulated the Centre on the very good parent education work that is being done—frequent discussions, talks by qualified speakers, and film evenings. Mrs Hetet, the supervisor, was warmly thanked for the tremendous amount of time and effort she had put in to make the first year of the Centre such a success.

Otaua The opening the Otaua Play Centre in early April by Mr A. Grey, of the Maori Edu- The opening of the Otaua Play Centre in early April by Mr A. Grey, of the Maori Education Foundation, was the culmination of a year's work by a few families in a small community. At this settlement in East Hokianga, both children and parents are benefiting from the establishment of the Play Centre, all agreeing that the work involved has enriched their lives immeasurably. Only a year has elapsed since 17 people attended the inaugural meeting held at the