Tynong plays up

TYNONG has been a town of fun and games recently, with the opening of the newly refurbished playground in Railway Avenue.
The Tynong Progress Association and the families of the Tynong Playgroup hosted a full-filled afternoon.
The playgroup arranged for plaster painting, bubble blowing, face painting and entertainment by popular clown Mr Mushroom, who kept young and old alike enthralled with his tricks and balloon sculptures.
The Tynong Tennis Club lent the services of coach Marciek Luzak, who set up a mini tennis court which kept the older children busy.
Local youngster Adam Wadeston thrilled us with his skills on skates.
Mr Music (aka local store owner Krystof Bielecki) and his assistant Collette lent a cultural tone to the afternoon by playing his piano accordion so the children could play musical games. Thank you all.
There were visits from Wally Wombat and Captain Koala, sausages and afternoon tea (thanks to the Progress Association and Neil, Maureen and Alex Graham, Elva Hamill, Lesley Holt and Carmel McMillan) and lots of fairy bread (thanks to Dollar Sweets and The Great Australian Bakehouse).
A monster raffle arranged by Tynong Playgroup was drawn. The winners were: Frieda Davidson, knife set donated by Bunyip Timber and Hardware; Janene Dodds, gourmet hamper donated by Garfield Berry Farm; Margaret Fitzpatrick, plant and pot donated by Touch of Class Plants, Tynong; Helen Gleeson, $50 voucher donated by Vanessa’s Beauty Services; Liz Harrison, golf passes donated by Pakenham Golf Club; Roman Bielecki, cold pack donated by Drypak, Warragul; Brook Dorling, meal voucher donated by Racers, Pakenham; Kerry Fenwick, family pass donated by Gumbuya Park, Tynong; Liz Harrison and Judy Wilson, bottle of wine each donated by Whitehill Wine Company; Ann Crudden, dinner for two donated by the Royal Hotel, Drouin.
The winner of the ‘guess how many snakes in the jar’ competition was Fred Russell who correctly guessed 143 snakes.
The novelty races were as much fun for the spectators as they were for the participants. Courtesy of the Playgroup, everyone went home with balloons and show bags, thanks to mums Helen, Leah, Kerry, Frieda, Lee, Sharon and everyone else.
The afternoon was the culmination of many months of hard work by the Progress Association, especially member Maureen Graham who liaised with Cardinia Shire Council to have the old playground replaced.
This resulted in the council making $17,500 available in the 2004-05 budget.
Further donations and grants were received from the Pakenham Op Shop, Bunyip Community Shop and Telstra.
A successful election day cake stall was the catalyst for several other community fund-raising activities with the end result being the installation of the playground in April this year.
Extra funds from the Telstra Corporation were put to buy a see-saw rocker and extend the playground area.
The Progress Association would like everybody who had anything to do with the upgrade – the children of Tynong really do appreciate what has been done.