The Winter Holiday Program always brings challenges with weather. But this June/July Program was a great success – even on the chilly, cold days in the second week. The wind was icy, but it this did not stop the children from having loads of fun and enjoying some new activities, as well as some favourite oldies. It was another successful program, thanks to the children’s enthusiasm, engagement of the casual staff and the outstanding support shown from the local community.
Highlights from April’s Program
The first week was meet with lots of excitement, with Laser Tag and Racing Cars Prep-Yr2, Yr 3- Yr 6 – delicious single-serving chocolate mug cake and creating pencil cases and calico tote bags.
Tuesday team building games, craft activity with wooden fish, laser tag and sports. Wednesday Cooking time for prep – yr 2 delicious single-serving chocolate mug cake and marble run games.
Whilst Yr 3 – Yr 6 played with the racing cars, high flying UFOs and got creative with jewellery making. Thursday the morning kicked off with a special visit from “Wooly Nelson” the lamb – thanks Jasmine for bringing her along, then a mystery activity, which was a visit from Amanda and Ron from NIHRACS to talk about a poster comp for the kids – the poster was to help deliver a message about “how to be safe as a community member around NIHRACS when walking near or receiving radiation (xray etc)”. We also had an afternoon of movie time at the youth space and theatre. Great way to finish off the first week.
The second week kicked off with some very cold wind and weather. We are lucky to have the space of Rawson Hall to keep us all warm. But that didn’t bring down the high excitement from welcoming Damian and Andrew from “Clicking Bricks” – Lego masters. The craft sessions turned some boring old tin cans into beautiful butterfly tin planters. Throughout the week kids explored creativity with the Lego masters, Ten pin bowling, laser tag, sports, bingo and learnt all about digital cameras and explored a scavenger hunt with them.
During Monday and Wednesday evenings NI-Connect hosted free community Lego sessions with anyone welcome to come along and experience the challenges of creating and building with “Clicking Bricks”. We had a lot of families, which was great to see families getting together and building as a team and then some other adults from the community that just love Lego.
Many thanks to Agnes Hain and The Bounty Centre for the prizes for these sessions and a MASSIVE thank you to Lyda and Aloha Apartments for supporting us with accommodation for our Lego People’s visit.
Thanks to the children, families, casual staff, community support, and the NI-Connect team who made this another successful and great fun program.
A big thank you to the incredibly generous individuals, families and businesses who helped make the Holiday Wellbeing Program a success.
Norfolk Island Regional Council
Theatre – Monica Anderson
Andrew and Damian – “Clicking Bricks”
Jasmine & “Wooly Nelson” the lamb
Aloha and Lydia for the accommodation for “Clicking Bricks”
Agnes and The Bounty Centre for the prize vouchers.
To our casuals and young leaders – we are so grateful for how much effort you put into making sure all the kids have fun.
Lola Robinson Heidi Thomas
Kes Harper
Baylee Dinsmor
Hayley Laffan
Debbie McGregor
Chloe Power
Nate Christian-Bailey
Tracey Graham
Sebastian Grant
Darlene Grant
Ben Grant
Lisa Smith
Debbie Anderson
Mali Garden
Trish Christian-Bailey
Lukas Andrew
Charlotte Goodall
Fletcher Buffett
Antonella Bone
Tyla Schmitz
Natasha Arnold
Sophie OcConnor
Rebel Greenwood
Dash Goodall
Brycen Menzies
Kingston Menzies
Carol Kilpin
Ollie OcConnor
Saedy Burns
Feedback from children and families using the program, local casual staff and young people working at the program and our permanent NI-Connect staff all helps so we can keep trying to make this a better program for the kids, a better support for families and a great place to work.
NI-Connect Holiday Wellbeing Program team is always looking for interesting and new ideas. If you have any special knowledge or skills that you might like to teach, pass on or share with the next generation through a workshop or activities then we would love to hear from you!!
Acknowledgement: NI-Connect’s child and family wellbeing services are funded by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts
