RORP Update - Rotarians at Work

Posted by Geoff Widmer
Community Service RORP
Playgrounds in Boroondara and Stonnington are gradually being replaced, providing opportunities for RORP to repurpose the equipment
Rotary Overseas Recycled Playgrounds (RORP) has not been active in the last six months as the Boroondara and Stonnington Councils, through our RORP Cluster (Rotary Hawthorn, Camberwell, Canterbury and Balwyn), have not had many playgrounds to repurpose. Also there has been a need to reorganise following the passing of Victorian RORP Co-ordinator, Bob Allardice. Rob Jackson at the Rotary Club of Nunawading is leading that change.
 
Boroondara Council have appointed a new coordinator for RORP projects, Hilliary McLeish, and on 7th August she contacted us to advise that she is now the person for playground renewal.
 
We are able to take metal equipment, such as the swings above, but must leave Mark Howlett behind!
We were advised that there are four playgrounds between now and first quarter 2026 to be replaced. These are:
  • Howard Dawson Reserve Playground (320 Burke Rd, Glen Iris)- September 2025
  • Norway Reserve Playground (Woodstock & Parlington St, Canterbury)- December 2025
  • Dorothy Laver Reserve Playground (9 Saxby Rd, Ashburton)- January 2026
  • South Surrey (Verdun St & Lille St, Surrey Hills)- February 2026
After Mark Howlett and I from Rotary Glenferrie visited the Howard Dawson Reserve and following discussions with Ed Frost (Deputy RORP Co-ordinator), it was decided that there were only three items that we were interested in, being two swings and a seesaw. The accept/reject issue is based mainly on wood content and the ability to be recreated in another overseas location and not deteriorate due to climatic conditions. If there is too much timber, we have to decline a major extraction and simply take swings etc, as permitted, with a smaller volunteer crew, as we have done here.
 
The City of Boroondara and the general contractor, Warrandale, have been engaged and we are waiting on exact timing and extraction date for us. We need a small crew to unbolt the swings. The contractor will extract the poles and break the concrete. Then we transport them to Kilsyth.  
 
Volunteers are welcome, so let me know if want to be included. Email me here.
 
In the interim, we inspect the remaining three at a time, over the next two weeks to see what equipment we can use.
 
Based on this new level of activity, we have reactivated the RORP Cluster with Ed Frost of Rotary Balwyn being the Deputy Co-ordinator. This is important to share the responsibility and give other Rotary clubs the opportunity to participate.
 
Geoff Widmer