Since 1975, dozens of volunteers at Peninsula Toys have refurbished many thousands of toys, games, dolls and bicycles, for reuse by the numerous childrenโs charities supported, both here in Australia and overseas for the past 50 years.
Many wonderfully people have shared this time from volunteers to charities and children who get to experience the toys first hand.
The 2024 Christmas season has been a busy one with donations coming in thick and fast between both the Kimbriki toy shed and the Ingleside drop off workshop. Along with school donations and fundraising efforts, we would like to thank the community for the incredible efforts of kindness and generosity. Some of the toys are heading off to:
- Truckloads of soft toys, boxes of toys, kids bikes and other random toys are heading to children in Ghana.
- Local Occupational Therapists drop by electing specialised resources.
- Dalwood Auxilary have taken 3 loads of toys.
- A new playgroup at Avalon selected toys for their setup.
- CEO at the Blue Hand Group dropped by.
- While (RYLA) Fighting Chance have been dropping in for small excursion days in the Toy Workshop for a few mornings.
- Teachers from St. Lucyโs School, have been visiting the HUB, hand selecting toys and special classroom resources for children with Autism.
Please find below a co-written testimonial from some very grateful educators at St Lucyโs.
Whilst many teachers spend their Saturdays programming, myself and colleagues from St Lucyโs and Gateway Community High visit the amazing human we call Terry the Toyman at the Peninsula Toy Repair centre, now beautifully housed at Kimbriki.
Perfectly aligned with Kimbrikiโs mission to have us all Rethink, Reduce, Reuse, Rrecycle, Terry and his team of volunteers breathe new life into preloved toys so that they not only bring joy to another generation of children, but they reduce landfill and save the planet one toy at a time.
Working at St Lucyโs school for children with disabilities, a curriculum based in play is more critical than ever. Using beautiful cots fitted out by the Kimbriki sewing team with handcrafted quilts and pillows, baby dolls that have been clothed in hand made garments, our students engage in our Social and Emotional literacy programs by simply playing imaginatively with these quality resources. They learn to share, to collaborate, to take care and role play using these wonderful, refurbished toys.
โTerry, The Toy Man (fondly referred to by the St Lucyโs community) has been an avid supporter of our school, and the items we receive through The Peninsula Toy Recyclers continue to be a valuable resource for our students with disabilities. The students in my class benefit from sensory toys, interactive games, and toys that promote motor skills, cognitive abilities, and social interaction. The collection point has not only supported inclusive education but also fostered a sense of community, allowing our students to feel empowered and engaged in their learning journey. Without the continued help of Terry and his team we would not be able to engage our students in learning appropriate to their development. I am forever grateful for his kindness, time and support through this great initiative.โ
Billie-Jean โ educator at St Lucyโs
More role play is happening in our Home Corner โ also fully kitted out by the team at Kimbriki โ children cook, wash up, boil the kettle and make toast for each other, their educators and the class babies who are by now sitting in their highchairs.
Meanwhile, our investigation space has telescopes and magnifying glasses, crystal growing kits and books galore โ all thanks to the amazing service provided by Terry and his team at Kimbriki.
On my most recent visit Terry wanted me to invite the families of our St Lucyโs community to also enjoy the opportunities available to them at the Kimbriki workshop.
Gateway Community High seeks to meet the needs of students in yrs 9-12 who face adversity and challenges in the final years of schooling. The resources from Terry help the passionate educators bring life and learning through STEM kits, telescopes, musical instruments, and sports equipment that would not otherwise be available to these students for whom mainstream education has not been a positive experience.
โFrom water play to giant marble runs, I was able to engage a diverse group of learners for whom exploration and experimentation was crucial to their growth. Knowing that when my students inadvertently damaged a toy it could be returned to Terry for a third life, reduced my anxiety and allowed students to explore with impunity.โ
Mark, Head of Campus
The work done by Terry and his team is changing lives here in Sydney every day.
Peninsula Seniors Toy Recyclers Website
Peninsula Seniors Toy Recyclers Facebook
Toys can be dropped to the Toy Shed at Household Problem Waste โ Drop Of Point 3.
(Please note: that we supply only charities, so sorry but we do NOT sell toys to the public
