This is a vital community-rebuilding project, that will also provide a special link between the users of the park and the Indigenous people the Wurundjeri - the original custodians of the land.
Successful
Eltham North Adventure Playground Community Landscaping Project
Playground landscaping & planting events to help heal our community
SUCCESSFUL PROJECT
Project details
Suggested by: Natalie
Project partner: Nillumbik Reconciliaton Group
Region
Northern Metro
Budget
Votes
825 votes received
Spread the word
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Arson attack destroyed our 24-year-old timber community adventure playground in December 2017. This important facility was originally funded and built by the community. Insurance will only fund the structure rebuild. The Friends of Eltham North Adventure Playground (FOENAP) landscaping project aims to develop a community landscape legacy - turning this special place into a living reconciliation playground - exciting and educating visitors. Wurundjeri Council and Elder endorsement and involvement enables us to hold community cultural events, and plant an indigenous garden reflecting Wurundjeri Seasons - incorporating cultural signage, storytelling and language through Aunty Joy Murphy's book ‘Welcome To Country'.
This project will empower our community to come together and reclaim our much loved gathering place. The emphasis on Wurundjeri Culture and Seasons will strengthen a shared connection to country, environment and education for all ages - both during the project and long afterwards. By involving local schools and community groups in landscaping, tree planting and creating a new generation pottery path, our community can deal with loss, and step optimistically forward in unity. Our playground will become a place for physical and cultural play that acknowledges the adventure playground of 24,000 years ago, the recent past and the future.
SUCCESSFUL PROJECT
Project details
Suggested by: Natalie
Project partner: Nillumbik Reconciliaton Group
Region
Northern Metro
Budget
Votes
825 votes received
Spread the word
Before participating in Pick My Project please log in or register to YourSAy.
Comments
Comments closed
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Can't wait till it's finished
Was very sad to see it burnt down but like a Phoenix it is rising
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Would welcome this playspace back. It was a significant area with a special rustic and community feel. Many kids, local and remote, miss this space.
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This much needed project will provide a wonderful opportunity for play that will benefit many thousands of visitors to the area. It will be a special for future generations of children who will play there and visit the local Edendale farm, ride bikes and walk along the Diamond Creek Trail. It will be a great project for the local community and the many visitors who come to Eltham.
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Amazing project to rebuild such a special and treasured space by many
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As a member of the Nillumbik Reconciliation Group I feel this project will provide a special link between the users of the park and the Indigenous people the Wurundjeri who were the original custodians of the land
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Our family was devastated when the attack occurred, many hours of entertainment spent at the playground and accompanying oval with our 4 kids and many friends. Looking forward to the replacement playground.
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We miss this play space a lot! My little one was devastated to see the burnt out remains. Love that it will come better than ever!
Hi Anne. Yes, so many of us were feeling the same way. Construction work on the playground structure is soon to start & we can't wait to gather the community together to build this reconciliation garden. Thanks for your support, Cheers Natalie
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Making the links to our local Wurrendjerri tribe really excites me. It will be such a beneficial addition to a wonderful local meeting and playing space. Very fitting!
Hi Keryn, so glad you agree. We are really excited to have Aunty Joy Murphy & the Wurundjeri Council's enthusiastic support & guidance. It will be fabulous to see some of the pages of Aunty Joy's picture book "Welcome to Country" come to life. We hope you can join us at one, some or all of the community cultural & planting events.
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My kids who are now adults grew up playing in this playground.Lets rebuild so future generations can play.
Hi Connie, we so agree. Recently a young mum was visiting from Bahrain & she was walking her toddler along the pottery path. She was able to point out the animal she created with Mary-Lou Pittard back in 1994. We are so glad that it wasn't destroyed. Through this project we will have more than a playground, we will have a legacy where families can come back to see the trees they plant. Kids can create a next-generation pottery path & most importantly we can honour the Wurundjeri adventure playground that existed here well before the playground. Hope you & your adult kids will help us create it. Please encourage them to vote for this project too. Cheers, Natalie
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A much missed community asset. Bring it back, made from timber... I want to have another sons birthday chasing them round this magnificent space.
Peter, we love love love your post! Thank you. Here's the many birthdays gone by & the ones to be celebrated. The new structure has plenty of timber & even a tractor! You'll be happy to know the playground construction is soon to start. Fencing went up around the build zone today.
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It was special park. I would like to see it reinstated.
Hi Linda, yes it was a special park. It will be different but everyone involved in the rebuild wants to see it restored to the vibrant community gathering space that it used to be. Our Friends group has worked hard to be a voice for the community. We hope that through this project to build a Wurundjeri Seasonal garden we can create something 'extra-special'. Thanks for your vote & please encourage your friends to support it too. We'd love you to come along to a community planting day to celebrate.
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Such a community Hub. Will be good to see it used again
Hi Tricky, yep. It has been strange seeing the space vacant after the fire clean up & not having throngs of kids playing. Eltham North Primary School students have especially missed having it has the best before & after school hang out. Besides all the regular family gatherings, the playground was a community hub every Thursday for families who home-schooled their children. This project has so many benefits to offer. Fingers crossed we get enough votes to realise the dream. Thanks for your support!
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We would love to see our beloved «wood park» and surrounding green space restored. We miss it so much! Love from Olly, Zoe and Tom
Ps. Good Luck with your project! 🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳
Thank you Olly, Zoe & Tom. We hope that you will love the space again. It's not often that a playground is nestled in such natural beauty. There's quite a bit of work to do to green things up again. The Diamond Creek & the surrounding trees are precious & we hope that you'll help add your personal touch with the community landscaping opportunity that's ahead.
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Inclusive community and educational project to further enhance connectivity within our community.
RB, you've summed it up beautifully. Thanks for your support ... please encourage your friends to vote for this project too.
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Great project will benefit a community devastated by the loss of the playground due to arson.
Thank you Jennie. Thanks for your vote too. It is a shame that a careless act can cause so much grief. We have all missed the playground. What's that old saying ... we often don't fully appreciate something until it's gone? People would come from all over to visit the playground & we know they will again. This project is a celebration of community, culture, creativity, the environment & importantly a way to show our respect to the Wurundjeri on whose land we play. We look forward to sharing the journey with you :)
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katgazz
17 Sep 2018
Avery worthwhile project that will benefit the local community and visitors