A new cubby to bring smiles - Stories from the Heart of Orange
There’s a new house on the block at Spring Street Children’s Centre thanks to the generosity of the Borenore/Nashdale Men’s Shed.
Picture a sea of laughter, smiling faces, doorbells ringing, doors opening and closing, the question “Would you like a coffee sir” over and over - that was the glorious vision at Spring Street Children’s Centre after the cubby house was brought into the grounds.
Douglas Brooks was the Men’s Shed member who supplied the cubby house initially.
“My son and I put it together for his family to use years ago, his kids were finished with it and he said what should I do with it, I said give it to me and I’ll take it to the Men’s Shed,” said Douglas.
“A few of the slats on it were broken and we gave it a new paint job. It took about two months to get it all good again, as we only work one day a week. It’s wonderful seeing the kids so excited, now it’s going to another generation of children.”
Early Childhood Teacher, Kate Tabbernor said, “We were only too happy to take the cubby off their hands. It’s great to have things like this, especially when it’s been repurposed and done up like it has. It has already been put to good use and given a second life. The kids were especially excited to see it on the back of the trailer getting brought in.
Kate mentioned the Centre had a cubby house previously though it had become quite run down and didn’t sport half of the fun gadgets this one has, including a doorbell, stove, sink and flowerbed.
“The kids especially love the doorbell, I think that is going to get quite a workout,” Kate laughed, “It’s great for them to get outside and use their imaginations.”
“We can’t thank the Borenore/Nashdale Men’s Shed enough, they do a lot of work within the community and our centres, so we are extremely grateful to them.”
Borenore/Nashdale Men’s Shed member Max Davidson added, “Seeing the attitude of the kids with it, it makes it all worthwhile.. and yes, that doorbell battery might need replacing fairly often.”