Boral Helps Establish All-Abilities Playground
An inclusive playground enabling children of all abilities to participate has been opened in Melbourne with the assistance of Boral.
Through our partnership with Touched by Olivia Foundation, we have been helping create all-abilities playgrounds that provide children, including children with disabilities, the opportunity to play since 2012.
The latest Livvi’s Place playground – including coloured concrete donated by Boral – officially opened in Craigieburn, in Melbourne’s north-west, on March 19. The custom-made playground features accessible slides, tunnels, swings, bridges, ropes, cubby house and a carousel.
The Touched by Olivia Foundation was created to honour Olivia Perkins, who died when she was only eight months old from a rare disease in 2006. Her parents John and Justine Perkins transformed their tragedy into a positive for others and created a lasting legacy in their daughter’s memory.
Through the establishment of the Livvi’s Place playgrounds, the foundation hopes to become redundant one day when all playgrounds are designed for all children regardless of ability.
Paul Hillyer, Boral General Manager Concrete – Southern Region, said it was a privilege for Boral to be involved in building and creating such a vibrant facility that provides children in the region with an opportunity to play together.
“Boral has a strong representation in Melbourne’s northern suburbs, and we take pride in our ability to supply quality products and services to our customers,” Mr Hillyer said.
“Being able to contribute to the local community through important projects such as this mean a great deal to our company. Many of our employees and contractors live in this area, and take great delight in seeing Boral as an important part of the community.
“My thanks go to our employees at the nearby Boral Wollert site for their dedication and commitment during our involvement in building the playground.”
Located in the municipality of Hume City Council, Mayor Drew Jessop said more than 4 per cent of children under nine years had a disability and required assistance in Hume.
“Originally based on a budget submission from an interested parent, in 2015, the designers engaged by council visited many schools around Craigieburn and asked children what they would like to see at Livvi’s Place and the feedback was invaluable,” Cr Jessop said.
“Council would also like to thank sponsors Boral, Kitchen Innovations, Craigieburn Central, Stockland Highlands, ADCO Constructions and Peddle Thorp Architects, along with the Victorian Government and the Touched by Olivia Foundation.”
Boral has provided in-kind materials donations concrete for Livvi’s Place playgrounds in Jordan Springs in NSW and Ballarat, Craigieburn, and Casey in Victoria, supported Alice’s Playspace in St Albans, Victoria, and assisted with the fit-out of the Foundation’s offices since 2012.