Slade Coutts having some fun at Pirongia Playcentre.
Pirongia Playcentre staff are preparing to celebrate the centre’s 50th anniversary – a milestone Michelle Crawford is especially proud to be a part of.
On the centre’s leadership team alongside Renee Coutts, Nikita Muller and Rachel Newman, Michelle’s been involved for nearly five years.
The centre is run mostly voluntarily – with 25 families from Pirongia and surrounds, and some from Te Awamutu, attending.
“I initially came along just to be involved somehow, but in terms of community and connection for our family it’s really become like the village we never knew we needed.
“We’re so fortunate that playcentre has such a rich history – and we only have what we have here today because of those who have faithfully invested in the centre in the past,” she said.
The anniversary is set for early November, and as well as inviting current and past students and teachers along, the day – which will feature an afternoon tea – is being opened up to the wider community.
A commemorative mural – planned for one of the walls near the entrance – will also be unveiled on the day.
Centre staff applied for a $2550 grant from Pirongia Ward committee’s discretionary funds to help pay for it.
They received $1000 at the committee’s September meeting.
“We’re still discussing plans around what the mural will feature, but the idea is for it to symbolise our wonderful community,” Michelle said.
And, ahead of the celebration, the call has gone out to anyone with a connection to the centre – past or present – who has items from
the centre’s history such as old photographs or other items they can bring along on the day.
“We’d love to hear from anyone who has things like that,” Michelle said.
The Franklin St playcentre building is one steeped in history. Heritage New Zealand – Pouhere Taonga – records show the former school building has been a category two historic place since 1985.
