Trying out some of the 21 donated trikes after a dozen
trikes were taken from Otago Polytechnic Childcare Centre
at the weekend are (from left) Georgia Te Raki (3), Oliver
Hobbs (4), Ben Doig (3), Hunter North (3) and Vincent
Cavanagh (15 months). Photo by Linda Robertson.
Happy tykes on tiny trikes greeted visitors at the Otago
Polytechnic Childcare Centre yesterday, with donations bringing
early Christmas cheer for staff and children alike.
Minus a dozen plastic trikes and a wooden ride-on after a
theft last weekend, the Forth St centre was now the proud
owner of 21 donated plastic trikes and three wooden ride-ons
after publicity about its plight.
"It is good. I went slow down the hill because I don't want
to crash the new bike," Oliver Hobbs said yesterday.
Warwick Reid, of Dunedin Valuations, said the company felt
moved to donate eight replacement trikes after reading of the
theft.
"It was a pretty rotten thing to do before Christmas, and
these kids deserve better than that."
Also donating trikes was EPI Plastics, with the Dunedin-based
company donating six of its "dune buggy" models it sells
throughout the country.
"I can understand why someone would want them at this time of
the year, but it is so mean to steal them from these little
kids," managing director Norman Wood said.
And the gifts kept on coming for the centre, with Kmart and
The Warehouse donating two apiece, parents another two, and
Cutlers real estate agent Gabby Morris giving a donation to
buy three wooden ride-ons.
Centre manager Glenis Whipp, who is due to retire next week,
said the donations were the highlight of her 47 years as an
early childhood educator.
"The generosity of the public has been amazing - a real
Christmas spirit at a special time of the year."
- hamish.mcneilly@odt.co.nz
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