General News
12 December, 2025
Official opening for Lions carousel
AFTER many months of fundraising, grant applications and planning, Camperdown Lions Club officially opened their new all abilities carousel at Apex Park on Monday.
The grand opening saw many Lions members from Camperdown joining with members of the Simpson Lions Club, representatives of the Community Bank Cobden and Camperdown, Corangamite Shire Council staff, councillors Ruth Gstrein, Jo Beard and Laurie Hickey and Camperdown College student Goldie Elsum and her mother Charlene to mark the occasion.
Camperdown Lions Club member Colin Hayman said the carousel was part of plans to install inclusive play equipment at the park, which was brought up by former Lion and childcare worker Skylar Carpenter in March 2022.
Ms Carpenter saw firsthand the issues faced by Goldie, who lives with a rare neurodevelopmental condition causing epilepsy and seizures, in accessing play equipment when out and about.
“The proposal was unanimously accepted, and an inclusive play space committee was formed to investigate the viability of building an inclusive play space in Camperdown,” Mr Hayman said.
“At the time, Skylar was a childcare worker at a childcare facility which had a focus on inclusion and acceptance.
“One of those children in her care was Goldie – Skylar witnessed firsthand the challenges her parents faced in finding inclusive play spaces, places where they could play joyfully and safely with their peers.
“Their struggle highlighted a need for all abilities play equipment that allowed every child – regardless of ability – to share in the simple vital experience of play.
“It was this experience which sparked the first vision for this equipment.”
Extensive documentation was created for the plan, which was revised in July 2022 after the club raised concerns the committee would not have the resources or time to create a larger-scale project to focus on a staged approach.
The full project plan included sensory play equipment and a liberty swing, with the carousel identified as stage one.
Cr Gstrein and Community Bank Cobden and Camperdown board member Pat Robertson were guest speakers at the opening ceremony, which included the opportunity for attendees to have a go on the carousel.
Goldie was the first to have a go on the day, enjoying the ride as her mother pushed her.
Ms Elsum said it was exciting to see the new carousel opened.
“She’ll be able to come down and have a play on the equipment with her brother as well,” she said.
“It’s really nice the community thinks of families like ours.
“It’ll be something that will be well-used within the community.”
Cr Gstrein said it was great to see the community come together to support the project, as well as a number of organisations.
“With Apex Park, the Lions contributed, Rotary contributed, Bendigo Bank, FRRR (Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal) and, most importantly, the community – when you see all the collaboration, it makes things happen,” she said.
“It’s an absolute great asset to have in our park. Goldie loved having the first spin.
“The first time I saw a carousel like this one was in Colac – a 90-year-old great-grandmother in a wheelchair was wheeled onto one with her great-grandson on her knee.
“It’s not just for young people – it’s for everybody.
“I’d love to thank the play space committee past and present – it was great working with you – and I’d like to thank council staff for their part as well.”
Ms Robertson congratulated everyone involved in the project from planning to completion.
“I must admit the community bank gets lots and lots of applications, and when this one came it there wasn’t a doubt amongst the committee,” she said.
“I think we all saw it ticked all the right boxes for us, so we were delighted we could help sponsor.
“On behalf of the bank, we’re delighted to have been part of this project.
“We like to be involved in things like working with young people.”
A plaque was unveiled by Cr Gstrein, Ms Robertson and Camperdown Lions president Isabel Riordan.
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