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Home / Bay of Plenty Times

Families flock to Phoenix day

Sonya Bateson
Bay of Plenty Times·
16 Dec, 2013 01:00 AM2 mins to read

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The Phoenix owners Mel and Mark Lawrence took Gianni Martin, 5 (red hat), Atareta Christie, 8, and Tamatea Christie, 2, for a spin on a ride-on mower.Photo/George Novak

The Phoenix owners Mel and Mark Lawrence took Gianni Martin, 5 (red hat), Atareta Christie, 8, and Tamatea Christie, 2, for a spin on a ride-on mower.Photo/George Novak

A fire truck, bouncy castles, face painting and balloon animals attracted huge crowds to the first The Phoenix Family Fun Day.

Masonic park was teeming with families yesterday afternoon having fun with the numerous attractions and games put on by The Phoenix owners Mel and Mark Lawrence.

Mrs Lawrence said the the park had been full almost the entire time.

Families were asked to pay a gold coin on entry, which was donated to Camp Quality, a charitable trust that holds annual summer camps and year-round support at no cost to help children and their families living with cancer. Mrs Lawrence said with the turnout, she hoped to have raised about $500.

The most popular attractions were the fire truck, the bouncy castles and the woman making balloon animals, Mrs Lawrence said.

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Santa Claus was ushered into the park on the back of a ride-on mower and dished out a lolly scramble to the kids.

"I'm really pleased with how it's gone. I wouldn't have wanted it to get any bigger. It was a manageable size."

Visiting the fun day was Emma-Jane Jones who brought her daughter Ariana-Mei Harris, 4, along for some fun. Ariana-Mei said she she had been on the bouncy castle and was excited about having a ride on the fire truck.

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