History

Playgroup NSW was established in 1972. Following are some of the milestones we've had along the way...

1972

• The inaugural meeting of the Playgroup Association of NSW is held in April
• There are 33 affiliated playgroups
• The central office is Rosemary Roebuck’s house in Balmain
• The playgroup sessions are held at St John’s Church in Birchgrove
• Individual membership fees are $5 per family plus the group pays an insurance fee of $10.50
• The first Totline is produced in October. It costs just 5c. The magazine’s name is suggested by Shirley Wilcox

1973

• The first Annual General Meeting is held in March
• Rosemary Roebuck is the first president
• In October, the office moves to the crypt of the Campbell Street church in Balmain
• The first zones are formed

1974

• Nine zones are established and 320 playgroups are affiliated with the Association

1975

• The Association receives its first Federal Government grant and holds its first state conference. About 50 people attend
• 550 playgroups are affiliated
• The office moves to Chester Hill and employs its first staff.

1977

• David Thummler becomes the Association’s first male president
• The first Playgroup Week, now known as Children’s Week, is held in October
• The production of Totline is handed to professionals

1979

• The Association moves to its Sefton office
• There are 700 Affiliated playgroups

1980

• Total membership is 30,000 families

1981

• The Association resolves not to join the Playgroup Association of Australia at an extraordinary general meeting

1986

• The Association becomes a member of the Playgroup Council of Australia
• There are three staff members employed by the Association: office manager, accounts and office assistant
• Total membership is 38,000 in 1400 playgroups

1987

• The Playgroup Association becomes incorporated

1988

• The first two field liaison officers and special needs officer are employed
• Country Cousins Scheme begins

1989

• The office becomes computerised!
• Playgroup week switches to May

1990

• A fax is installed at the office
• The Association receives a $25,000 equipment grant from the Federal Government

1992

• The Playgroup Association celebrates its 20th birthday
• First national Playgroup Awareness Week
• Playgroup Council of Australia becomes incorporated

1993

• Illawarra, Hunter and Southern Sydney field liaison officers are employed
• Totline is mailed direct to every member. The now quarterly magazine is full colour

1995

• The office appoints its first promotions manager, ethnic liaison officer and executive assistant

1996

• The Association moves to Guildford.

1997

• Playgroup celebrates its 25th birthday
• There are 1300 playgroups
• Totline’s circulation is 31,000
• Field liaison officers are replaced by regional development workers
• The Association develops a strategic plan

1998

• One-off funding from the Department of Family and Community Services produces a range of initiatives and necessary resources, including: Zone training manual and zone treasurers’ handbook, Playgroup start-up kit, Multicultural kits and Special needs brochure
• First paid co-ordinator playgroups trialled
• NSW Women’s Grant Program results in establishment of Filipino grandmothers playgroups

1999

• For the first time, the Association buys “air-time” on commercial television stations to advertise the benefits of playgroup
• Casino Community Benefit Fund grant sees the establishment and support of two playgroups in low socio-economic areas
• Association gets and email facility

2000

• The Association launches its website www.playgroupnsw.com.au
• The Association office relocates to new rental premises at Wetherill Park

2001

• In-house placement officer joins staff to assist volunteers with referrals to playgroups
• One-off funding from the Department of Family and Community Services allows the Association to conduct a major marketing campaign

2002

• The Association celebrates its 30th year anniversary
• There are 1192 playgroups and 1808 sessions
• Memberships is 26,000 families
• New four-tier membership fee structure trialled
• Launch of new Playgroup Program resource
• Association hosts Playgroup Council of Australia three-day meeting

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