A change of venues for the Messy Play Day has been rewarded with more than double the amount of people flocking through the gates.
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Warrnambool Toy Library event co-ordinator Bonnie Lucas said almost 2000 people attended the fundraiser at Flagstaff Hill on Sunday.
It was moved from the civic green, where it had been held the past two years, after outgrowing the city site.
Mrs Lucas said children squished tomato pieces in their hands, crushed cooked fruit and vegetables with their feet, got dirty in mud pit filled with vehicles and baked up a storm in the mud kitchen.
For those looking for cleaner fun there was lux slime, paper mulch and moon dough.
“Sensory play is a learning experience for children,” Mrs Lucas said. “They get unlimited play where they’re not constrained. It’s a beautiful way of playing in a way that’s not normally allowed.
“It’s great for the developmental stage between the ages of two to five but even the older kids got involved. Even the parents were squishing tomatoes which was good,” she laughed.
The Warrnambool Toy Library event is the group’s main fundraiser for the year and kicked off National Children’s Week celebrations in the city.
She said they received grants from the Department of Education and Training and the Warrnambool City Council events team.
Mrs Lucas said the new location at the top of Flagstaff Hill, overlooking Lady Bay, worked well with plenty of space for activities.
“Thanks to the Warrnambool city for supporting us and we hope they come down to the toy library and become members. It’s a great service.”
Fellow toy library volunteer Elise Stuart said last year’s event attracted 800 people, which they had more than doubled this year.
“It’s been a great day,” Mrs Stuart said. “It was just awesome. It’s been a fabulous day.”
Sarah Rothman, from Garvoc, said her three children Oberon, 8, Hannah, 6 and Tallulah, 4, also enjoyed themselves.
“I thought it was amazing,” Mrs Rothman said. “All of it was amazing. We’ve been every year and I liked it here. I think it worked really well.”
Mum Natasha Kelly, from Allansford, and daughter Brooklyn Suridge, 3, attended and said they too, had had a great time.
“It’s been brilliant,” Ms Kelly said.
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