Play It Forward launched in Hunters Hill

News

November 20, 2020

Businesses have responded generously to support inclusion in playgrounds across Hunters Hill and now the broader community is invited to get active to ensure all children aged 1 to 5 years have an opportunity to play, regardless of their ability.

Hunter’s Hill Council and the Gladesville Chamber of Commerce has partnered with social enterprise Play For All Australia to provide inclusive upgrades to parks across the local government area.

Local businesses were invited to sponsor installation of a new inclusive, high-back swing at a playground in Hunters Hill and responded generously to the call for action.

A tech-enabled inclusive swing seat was launched on World Children’s Day (20 November 2020) at Buffalo Creek Reserve. For the next four weeks, young community members are invited to swing on it, with a built-in counter recording every swing and tracked live at playforall.com.au.

The more swings, the faster the target is reached to unlock the sponsored inclusive swing seat upgrades at other playgrounds across the community.

Play for All Australia was established by Caroline Ghatt and husband Tim Smith. Their son Marcus, who lived with a significant disability and used a wheelchair, unexpectedly passed away last April just before his thirteenth birthday.

Their daughter and Marcus’ sister Amelia had the first swing at Buffalo Creek Reserve today to launch the initiative.

Caroline said in honour of Marcus, her family wanted to generate awareness and galvanise the importance of social inclusion.

“Our goal is to equip playgrounds across communities with swings that are inclusive to all children,” she said.

“We want to help ensure that no family is left out of their local playground.”

Mayor Ross Williams said Hunters Hill was honoured to be the first Council to launch such an important initiative and he hoped to see it extend to other areas.

“We thank Play For All Australia for choosing to partner with us on this innovative project and we welcome all in our community to get active and join the cause,” he said.

“I would also like to thanks the sponsors who have generously partnered with us to bring this project to fruition in what has been an incredibly tough year for business.”

Proudly sponsored by:

As a human being, I believe in equality for all, irrespective of ethnicity, gender, religious beliefs, abilities and disabilities, status, rights and opportunities. I live my life in pursuance of restoring and supporting equality for all.

As a community local, it gave me absolute pleasure to be able to support Play it Forward. I think it is a wonderful initiative to restore and support equality now and for future generations by ensuring all children feel included amongst their peers in a social and community setting. From here, amazing things will grow. Thank you, Marcus, Caroline, Tim and family.

-Mali Thaggard, Australia Business Rescue

Cushman & Wakefield is so proud to be supporting the Play It Forward initiative. Play for All Australia is taking another step in the ambition to enable all children to play, participate and belong in their local community no matter what their level of ability. We believe wholeheartedly in reducing social isolation and exclusion for children with a disability and play is a wonderful way to bring the whole community together.

The Gladesville Chamber of Commerce is proud to be able to support such a worthwhile cause. We believe our local community should be inclusive for everyone and the new swings that will be suitable for all children help to achieve this as well as raise awareness around social isolation. It has been amazing to see Hunter’s Hill Council and local businesses sponsor swings even in such a challenging year, it truly is a testament to the amazing community we have.

McGrath Hunters Hill is thrilled to be part of this important initiative. We see the Play it Forward program and the inclusion of a Smart Swing in our local park as a wonderful opportunity for all children to have equal access to play facilities in our community.

RDC Accountants is supporting the program as everyone in the community should be able to go to the park with others and play on a swing. Without Play it Forward, the choices are limited and isolating for families and children with disabilities.

All children need to be encouraged to discover their skills physically, mentally and socially. This play equipment can be one of the most fun ways to inspire their growth and development.