General News
15 January, 2023
New life for the Cairns Toy Library
WITH the support of Cairns Trinity Rotary, corporate donations and the construction company Hansen Yuncken, the Cairns Region Toy Library received a new and improved space that will allow children in the region to enjoy the service for years to come.
Not-for-profit Cairns Region Toy Library aims to raise awareness of the value of play and give children from ages 0-8 who may not have the resources to access toys and proper spaces to play and experience the joy of toys.
The Cairns Region Toy Library caters for 140 members in Cairns, Kuranda and Mareeba, and the organisation hopes to include more remote areas in the future.
In 2021 and after lots of negotiating with Guides Qld and the State Government Department of Resources, Cairns Toy Library received the property they are currently using located on Pease St.
The property was in many aspects unsafe and unfit for children’s use, with an asbestos problem and a lack of a safe outdoor space to play.
With the increasing popularity of the Cairns Toy Library and new workshops added to their program, their space became obsolete, and after finding their new home, the reality sunk in that they would need a helping hand to make the new place work.
Cairns Region Toy Library President Ailsa Horsburgh said their priority was making the Pease St location suitable and safe for the children.
“The main building is about 70m2, and the shed (which we use for storage of spares and a workshop for repairs) is another 20m2,” Ms Horsburgh said.
“Ultimately, we will need about 350 m2 to accommodate the toys required to service our projected growth, which should be around 400 families.
“As soon as we took over the lease, fencing and landscaping became a priority - to make it safe for children and to reduce the vandalism of our buildings and equipment.”
Rotary and their corporate donors stepped in, with construction company Hansen Yuncken taking to the task of expanding the backyard space, doing a complete asbestos clean up and fitting a proper fence to allow the children to enjoy the toys outside.
The construction finished in December of 2022, giving the region’s children a Merry Christmas with lots of play. Cairns Trinity Rotary Secretary Anne Pyle said it was exciting to support an organisation like Cairns Toy Library.
“It was a joyous occasion,” Ms Pyle said.
“That’s the reason why you join Rotary; in the end, you’re part of a network that solves really deep issues.”
Ms Horsburgh said they were grateful for the community support.
“We are incredibly grateful for your help. Not only will this give us the security we need, but it will also enable us to hold Stay & Play sessions from 2023 onwards,” she said.
