Stratford's Toko Playcentre reaches 50 year milestone

Toko Playcentre members from 2007 to the present day on the newly opened sandpit.

For the past 50 years, Toko youngsters have been able to build mud pies, create fingerpaint art and enjoy countless other fun activities thanks to the Toko Playcentre.

On Saturday the centre celebrated its 50th birthday, an event which was well attended, says Erin Evans, current president of the Toko Playcentre.

Erin says the playcentre came into being five decades ago when Betty Burgham first suggested it. Betty was present at the celebrations on Saturday to see how her idea had grown since the early days when she was the first vice-president of the playcentre.

"Who knows how long it would have taken otherwise, or whether there would even be anything for pre-schoolers in and around Toko now," says Erin.

Betty Burgham had the original idea to start a Playcentre in Toko 50 years ago, and was at the jubilee this weekend.

Erin says the Toko Playcentre has enjoyed a strong membership throughout its years, and currently has 18 families and 28 children, on the roll.

Something which makes the Toko Playcentre unique, says Erin, is the generational connections.

"There is always someone at the centre who either came here as a child or their partner came here as a child, bringing along second generation children to enjoy this rich environment."

Erin herself attended the playcentre as a child, and says it is meaningful to her to be able to bring her own children back to enjoy the same experiences.

Over the last term the committee members decided to give the outdoor area an overhaul, with the outdoor fort and swing areas receiving new matting thanks to funding from the Taranaki Electricity Trust and the TSB Community Trust.

The sandpit also got a complete overhaul and the new sandpit area was formally opened during the jubilee celebrations with a ribbon cut by Kate Kowalewski, the centre's property officer, and the oldest child currently enrolled, Ashlee Jordan, 4.

Other celebrations included the cutting of a cake, made by life member Helen Jones, taking of decade photos, planting of a special tree to honour Playcentre life members and a barbecue dinner.