Morning tea for play equipment

Woy Woy Public School held a morning tea on Friday, September 7, in thanks for a $500 toy donation to its special needs class students.

The funding was to replace outdoor play gym equipment that was stolen from the school in November last year.

"(Radio station) 2G0 put out a radio request in November, asking for Peninsula residents to donate a secondhand, plastic, castle play gym to replace the one stolen from Woy Woy Public School special needs children's playground area," school parent Ms Deborah Morgan said.

"Lance Kennedy, the regional sales manager at Newcastle Building Society, was driving to work and heard the radio request.

"He had Linda Gibson, the community lending manager, contact the school and offer to purchase a new play gym."

Ms Morgan said the school was "thrilled by the immediate support".

"A kind parent donated her child's outgrown plastic castle play gym to replace the stolen item, and the $500 donated by Newcastle Permanent Building Society was used to purchase new outdoor toys for the 50 support class children, making both children and teachers very happy.

"The sand pit has a whole new dimension of fun, and they had smiles on their faces for weeks afterwards."

Ms Morgan said that a morning tea to thank Linda, Lance, and Julie Wakeling, the local Woy Woy branch manager was held on September 7.

"Also in attendance was Hunter Central Coast school education director Mr Frank Potter, principal Ms Ona Buckley, assistant principal disability services Ms Denise Kelly, and support class teacher Ms Michelle Pathirana," Ms Morgan said.

Press release, 7 Sep 2007 Deborah Morgan, Woy Woy Public School