By Shamsiya Hussainpoor
Olinda’s hidden gem, the Mountain Top Toy Library, recently celebrated the purchase of new toys with $1000 grant funding from the Department of Education and Department of Social Services with support from Toy Libraries Australia with a special launch event featuring Monbulk Member Daniela De Martino and Casey’s Federal Member Aaron Violi.
During the launch, Mountain Top Toy Library also hosted a vibrant ‘Play and Stay’ day, where babies, children, and families joined in a day of fun with an array of fantastic new toys.
The Olinda Hall buzzed with excitement as children explored their imaginations through creative play.
Parents, grandparents, and carers gathered to enjoy a sumptuous morning tea, enriching a sense of community and connection – this event not only highlighted the joy of play but also reinforced the library’s role as a welcoming space for families to come together and share meaningful experiences.
Mountain Top Toy Library president Vivien de Vanny is encouraging families to come and be part of the fun.
“Through Toy Libraries Australia, we received a grant from the Federal Government specifically for children with additional needs and with this funding, we were able to purchase a range of sensory toys, including fun gadgets that move through tubes, as well as touch-and-feel toys,” Ms de Vanny said.
The toy library features a wide selection of toys, including baby toys, push-alongs, puppets, slides, puzzles, board games, jigsaws, climbing frames, musical instruments, home play items, dress-ups, tunnels, mats, and a variety of wooden outdoor family games.
There are also sensory toys for children with additional support needs and families can borrow a toy for up to three weeks at a time – though they are welcome to come back more often Ms de Vanny said.
“It’s a great way to enjoy high-quality toys at home and then swap them out for something new,” she said.
She said the need for the new toys wasn’t driven by demand, but rather to provide families with more diverse options for play.
“We didn’t have any specific sensory toys before, and we recognised this gap as we strive to welcome more families – by introducing these sensory toys, we’re aiming to raise awareness among physiotherapists and encourage therapists to utilise our library for their clients,” she said.
“It’s not just about borrowing toys, it’s a wonderful opportunity to socialise with other families and meet new people, plus, it gives the children a chance to play together.”
“The children will have the chance to choose toys, while parents can test them out before deciding to purchase.”
To access the toy library, there’s a $40 membership for the year from the time of joining which allow families to borrow up to 10 toys, including games, puzzles, ride-ons, home play items, construction toys, cooking sets, climbing frames, and much more across numerous categories.
The toy library is open every Saturday morning from 9am to 10am at the Olinda Hall, located at 69-73 Olinda-Monbulk Road, Olinda – it is closed on long weekends, total fire ban days, and from mid-December to the end of January.
The library is entirely run by dedicated volunteers.
Anyone interested in becoming a new member is welcome to come to the Olinda Hall when toy library is operating to have a look around and ask any questions or have a chat, or contact the President, Vivien de Vanny on 0422 14 1266 or email mttl@iinet.net.au
