By Julian Leeser
Arcadia Public School has a spectacular sand-based new playground thanks to combined grants from Federal Member for Berowra, Julian Leeser MP, and Bendigo Bank Galston.
The Australian Government’s Local Schools Community Fund provided Arcadia Public School with a $5,000 grant to help create this amazing new space. The project really was a community effort, with Bendigo Bank Galston also providing generous funding, and local landscape experts completing the work.
Arcadia Public School Principal, Sharon O’Brien said, “The incredible creative design skills of Fiona and Matt at Architects of Arcadia and the talented ‘artisans’ from Furnass Landscaping have come together to produce this one of a kind playground in our beautiful school.”
“It is an adventurous, imaginative playground with different surfaces, places for the children to challenge themselves with balancing and building, creating, problem solving, socialising and have huge amounts of fun.”
Federal Member for Berowra, Julian Leeser MP, recently visited Arcadia Public School to check out the new playground. “I was so impressed by the sourcing of local materials for this beautifully unique play area. The sandstone sculpture, the distorted mirror and the timber climbing course border are great fun for the students. I am proud to help fund projects like this for our local students.”
Bendigo Bank General Manager, Savio Pereira said seeing students enjoying the play equipment is an important reminder of why Bendigo Bank, which contributed $15,000 to the sand-pit playground, gives so much back to the community.
“It was a joy to see the kids enjoying the playground. This is one of many community projects Bendigo Bank has helped to fund as part of our commitment to investing back into the community,” said Mr Pereira.
The playground is also accessed by Arcadia Playgroup that meets at the play space fortnightly. The Australian Government funding for this project therefore stretches not only to school students but also to local children aged 0-5 years. Additionally, all local children can access this wonderful play space during community events held on school grounds such as the Arcadia Market Day.
The funds were provided as part of the Local Schools Community Fund. For more information about the fund, visit https://www.education.gov.au/local-schools-community-fund
