2023
2023 Playgroup Champion Winner
Amelia Weir
Kardinia Playgroup - Ballarat
“How do you truly convey the absolute awesomeness that is Amelia? She is always ready with a smile, a cup of tea and a hug when you need it. She devotes hours of her time to research, developing amazing programs for our groups and coming up with the best craft and event ideas. She is incredibly inventive with resources and makes the best playdough. She is a friend to everyone who walks through our doors d ours on the most amazing community shows as well as running three regular playgroups every week. She cooks meals and delivers them to new mums, is always thinking of others and doing what she can to make their lives brighter and better. She is a wonderful example as a mother and is always ready to commiserate with you in your hard times and celebrate with you in the good ones. She advocates for her team of volunteers and is the best champion for children. She is so, so much more than words on a page, she is a force of nature, the true meaning of a good friend.”
2023 Playgroup Champion Runner-Up
Jemma Coates
Raywood Playgroup
“Jemma took it on herself to start playgroup in our small town of Raywood, unsure if she would have anyone turn up on day 1 let alone continue to come each week. With 2 young children herself she's turned up each week eager to engage with all the kids and provide a safe and fun enviroment for all the kids to learn in. Raywood playgroup has now been running for 1 year. Jemma encourages community engagement, with bush walks, visiting the local park and residents. We have love the connection she has made with the local school (of only 12-15 students) every term we meet with the school and the school children run a activity with our children. Being able to meet other local families has been fantastic, especially in our small farming community. We thank Jemma so much for taking on the role and getting playgroup started in Raywood.”
2023 Playgroup Champion Runner-Up
Jess Conway
Leopold Playgroup
“Jess is a superstar president of Leopold playgroup. She goes above and beyond, spending hours of her own time and investing her money in activities to create a community-centric and thriving playgroup. In the time we have been with the playgroup, she has completely transformed the experiences, activities and the whole connection that the playgroup offers with the incredible organisation, creativity and connection between committee members that she has instilled. From a playgroup that was on the verge of closing to, now adding extra days to accommodate more children and families, and giving back to the local businesses through the playgroup Easter Market, Jess has really made it a wonderful place to belong.”
“Jess goes above and beyond for our local playgroup each week. Her passion, creativity and ability to inspire others is truly one of a kind. Jess brings so many ideas to life through her amazing activities each week. She is dedicated to building our playgroup as a safe space for everyone and has created a place where everybody feels included and welcome.”
All 2023 Playgroup Champion Nominees
ABBY KOLLMORGAN – Bacchus Marsh Playgroup
ADELE SWAN – Boorai Wednesday Playgroup, Ocean Grove
ALISHA DARWENT – Tuesday Funday Playgroup, Berwick
AMANDA DUCK – Gummyaney Play N Yarn Playgroup
AMELIA WEIRD – Kardinia Playgroup, Ballarat
ANDREW DAVIES – Murrindal Playgroup, Rowville
ASHLEY BROWNE – Deer Park Playgroup
BETT – Chelsea Heights Wednesday Morning Playgroup
BROGAN GATT – New Gisborne Playgroup
CARLING MCEVOY – Birchip Playgroup
CARMEN MAGRIN – Creekside K-9 College Playgroup
CARA LEWIS – Whittlesea Playgroup
CELESTE DACOSTA – Doreen Community Playgroup
CHERYL PANE – Thomastown PlayConnect+ Playgroup
CHLOE BOLT – East Sale Community Hub on the RAAF Base
DAN TATTON – Thornbury Early Years Centre Playgroup
EMILY MORTON – New Gisborne Playgroup
EMILY SIMPSON – North Balwyn Possum Playgroup
ELSA MCMILLAN – St Columbus Anglican Church Playgroup, Hawthorn
FILIPPA CARUSO – Doreen Laurimar Playgroup
JANE BENNETTS – Ainslie Parklands Primary School Playgroup, Croydon
JANE GRIFFIN – Brown Hill Playgroup, Caledonian Primary School
JAN MARTIN – The New Life Pressie Playgroup, Officer
JANELLE PAULETTE – Wattleview Playgroup, Ferntree Gully
JEMMA COATES – Raywood Playgroup
JESSICA CONWAY – Leopold Playgroup
JESSICA JONES – Wattleview Playgroup, Knox
JILL VIZEC – Flowerdale Community House Facilitated Playgroup
JODIE – Manna Gum Family and Community Centre
JULIEANNE WILLIAMSON – Texas Playgroup & Inglewood Playgroup
KATHERINE FLEMING – Jan Juc Playgroup
KAYE HENRY – Every Little Season Garden Playgroup
LORNA – St Pauls Playgroup Gisborne
MEL – Cranbourne West Community Centre
MELANIE LEIGH WOODS – City of Melbourne Rainbow Playgroup, Kensington
MELISSA OBERIN – Winchelsea Community Playgroup
MICHELE ARMISTEAD – Melton Uniting Church Playgroup
MONICA COSTEA – Busy Bees Featherbrook Playgroup, Point Cook
NATALIE ALESSIO – Hohnes Rd Playhouse Playgroup
NICOLA MILLARD-MICHAELIS – Elwood Community Playgroup
PAIGE DAVIES – Violet Town Community Playgroup
REBECCA HICKEY – Weengkeel Playgroup
REBECCA MCKAY – Lucas Community Playgroup
REBECCA MILLER – Merri Creek Anglican Playgroup
RUMANA RABBI – Braybrook and Maidstone Neighbourhood House Inc
RUTH KERNICK – Kilsyth South Baptist Church Playgroup
VIV YETMAN – Retired Coordinator
YANA JAYASINGHE – Bunjil's Place Playgroup
YINGYING ZOU – Doreen Community Playgroup