Castlemaine Toy Library calls for donations that have proved their mettle

The Castlemaine Toy Library is calling on the community for help, with secretary Helen Vickers saying they were especially interested in the near-indestructible toys many people grew up playing with.

She said many local toy libraries reported their most popular items were the ones that had been in their collections for years.

“They are the old-school toys we played with when we were kids,” she said.

“They’ve all seemed to be replaced by Disney and other franchised toys. You can’t really buy a lot of good ones anymore. The newer ones are flimsy and often break.”

She said many modern toys simply were not hardy enough to last in the library.

Ms Vickers contrasted newer toys with the reliability of Fisher Price toys made in the 1980s and 90s.

“The Fisher Price toys of the 80s and 90s are indestructible.”

Many of the best items currently stocked in the library had been found at op-shops or garage sales and Ms Vickers hoped there were others gathering dust in the back of cupboards.

“Perhaps there are people with older children no longer playing with toys and who don’t know what to do with them,” she said.

“We are looking for donations of good quality toys with most of their pieces, and preferably no batteries required.”

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The library serviced children from all walks of life and Ms Vickers said it was important that everyone in the community had access to high quality equipment.

A parent herself, Ms Vicker borrowed out toys from the library every few weeks said it was a good way to keep the family’s home less cluttered.

“We are constantly cycling through toys without me paying too much,” she said.

Members of the library could pay a small annual fee of $40, or $25 for concessions.

Ms Vickers said many families who borrowed from the library also appreciated the fact that less toys ended up in landfills over time.

To donate to the Castlemaine Toy Library email castlemainetoylibrary@gmail.com