BUSHkids Annual Report 21 | 22

FoBk Warwick It shaped up to be an exciting year for Warwick Friends, with a few pandemic waves dampening some activities for short periods, but FoBk bounced back stronger than ever. The main project throughout the year was the development of the centre’s new Nature Play Area. This will provide our children and families with an outdoor setting where they can engage in unstructured activities such as vegetable and herb gardens, mud pits, dry creek beds, meandering deco pathways, and a yarning circle.

The Nature Play Area will be used primarily for outdoor therapy intervention, playgroups, and family support groups. Outdoor therapy is proven to be very calming, particularly for kids with difficulty following directions, while it’s a great place to see how children interact with each other and their environment. Local fundraising is well underway for this project, and we are hoping to see the area built and filled with happy kids in 2023.

Valé, John and thank you This year we said goodbye to our dear friend Mr John Head following a battle with cancer. John was a loyal and dedicated member of FoBk Warwick for many years and he, together with wife Sandra, assisted in organising many fundraising events. John was also a very reliable on-call handyman for the centre and was happy to lend a hand where he could: a very kind, caring, warm and considerate man who will be sadly missed by all.

The Warwick Centre playground also received a donation from Rotary Club of Warwick Sunrise towards a new shade sail and landscaping. FoBk and Rotary members, BUSHkids staff and other community group members enjoyed an afternoon tea prior to the official unveiling, at which Club President Peter Rodeck expressed his pleasure that the club could continue to support BUSHkids in such practical ways. BUSHkids Council Deputy Chair Carolyn Searle and husband BrianWard represented BUSHkids at the event. Among themore than 300 guests were Spano Group’s suppliers, colleagues, supporters, and friends, alongwithMCRichard Champion. Funds raised on the day totalled $40,339.66, directly benefiting the BUSHkids teams in Stanthorpe, Inglewood and Texas, supported fromour Service Centre in Warwick: an amazing outcome!

BUSHkids was delighted to be the Spano Group’s charity of choice at their 18th Charity Race Day held on Saturday 15 October 2022, in the Event Centre at the Gold Coast Turf Club.

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