We are a community-based organisation enabling families to borrow toys for almost 50 years. We are a not-for-profit, volunteer run organisation offering local families access to a wide range of fun and educational toys for a small annual fee.

Our catalogue caters for children from birth to 8 years of age and includes:

• Beginner/baby toys
• Activity toys (outdoor ride ons)
• Construction toys (wooden blocks, magnetic blocks, lego, giant construction blocks, train tracks and more)
• Games and Puzzles
• Fine motor toys (threading, lacing, playdough tools, peg boards and more)
• Education and STEM toys
• Dress Ups
• Sand and Water Toys
• Sporting Equipment
• Musical toys and instruments
• Role play toys (dolls houses, doctor kits, animals, vehicles and more)
• Party Packs (tables, chairs, crockery, cutlery, decorations)

Have a look through our online catalogue to see a sample of our toy range - click on 'TOYS' in the menu

 

How does it work?

We operate similiar to a book library, however instead of borrowing books, members borrow toys. Each member family can borrow 8 items at a time, including 4 toys and 4 games and/or puzzles. Toys are loaned for a period of 3 weeks. 

 

How much does it cost?

Members pay a low annual fee that enables them to borrow toys throughout the ensuing year (from actual date of joining). There are no weekly hire fees. Borrowing entitlements vary according to the membership type. Fees are as follows:

Click to View Our Latest Newsletter

 

Your Toy Library Committee 

All of our committee members are volunteers who love living in and contributing to the local community. If you have skills and time to offer and would like to volunteer in a fun, supportive environment please get in touch with us about joining the committee. 

 

Committee for 2023

 

Shanti 

President 

Shanti first joined the Toy Library in 2016 and was amazed by the range of toys available for borrowing! In 2019, Shanti joined the committee as Toy Officer, 2020 as Vice President and in 2021 stepped into the President's role. Shanti is very passionate about learning through play, early childhood and primary education and sustainability. Shanti divides her time between the Toy Library, working as a Teacher part-time and as a stay-at-home-mum to three kids. Her husband, Wiebe, plays an important support role in fixing things and providing specialised IT support for the library. Her favourite toys are those made of natural materials, like the Grapat or Grimms, but her boys love all the train sets, construction and ride on toys, especially the ezy-rollers and Little Tikes cars!

 

 

Prapti 

Treasurer/Grants

Prapti has been a member of our toy library for six years. She regularly takes care of her grandkids and wanted good quality toys to keep them busy, motivated and occupied. In 2019, she joined us on the committee and has been of great assistance, always happy to volunteer herself, and take on new tasks. She also spends her time volunteering with the Mens Shed, her local community and runs Indian cooking classes from her beautiful home in Hovea. Cumin Cook is on Facebook - cumincookingclass and Instagram - cumin_cook. Or visit https://www.cumincook.com/

Caitlin

Secretary

Caitln joined our toy library in late 2021 and quickly became part of the committee. On only her second visit to the toy library, she was helping Prapti put toys away and Prapti asked her if she had considered joining the committee. The rest as they say is history! She certainly hit the ground running and does an awesome job as our secretary! She loves the concept of the toy library, borrowing toys for a 3 week period and then swapping for new toys that peak the boys interest. Caitlin gets 'twitchy' when stuff starts to creep into the house so being able to experience 'new toys' without having to store or spend money on them is fantastic. Why take more than we need in life. She's started doing themed toy rotations utilising the toy library resources and loves the look of wonder on the boys faces when they see the playroom 'rotated'. They love the range of role play toys available, from prams to fire stations, dinosaurs and vacuum cleaners there is always something available they love to play with. The puzzles are a great hit too, as they often do a puzzle before bedtime so mixing them up every few weeks is great. Caitlin loves to spend her magical free time running, swimming, sitting in a cafe writing and eating acai bowls. Maybe one day we will all have the honour of knowing a famous author ;) 

 

 

Marsha

Memberships Officer & Roster Coordinator 

Marsha joined the toy library in mid 2021 and by the end of the year, she had her hand up to join the committee! Her and the kids love everything about the TL - the huge range of toys, the committee and the community. A big bonus is the amount of money they've saved and continue saving by borrowing toys. Her kids favourite toys are role play, dress ups, ride on and the party packs :) In her free time she loves to do gardening, go for walks, enjoy nature, catch up with friends and explore new places. You'll hear from Marsha when you join up, if you have any queries or when it's time for roster duties. We love Marsha's enthusiasm and help with all things toy library! 

 

Linda 

Toy Officer

Linda joined the toy library in April 2022 and started on the committee in November the same year. She loves being part of the toy library because it's a lovely community and being able to rotate high quality toys quite often without the cost. Her son, Hamish's favourite toys are the Little Tikes garden and the pat bell shelf. Linda enjoys going for walks with her dog, travel, visiting the zoo and playing hockey. She works hard behind the scenes organising our toy collection, doing everything from repairing toys with missing parts or broken pieces to ordering new toys and cataloguing them for you to borrow. She does an incredible job - thanks Linda! in a few months time, her family will be welcoming another baby into the family... and we're excited to have another little member on board :)

 

 

Madeleine

General Committee Member

Maddie joined our toy library in July 2022 and volunteered herself for our committee early this year. She loves that her daughter can experience and play with all different toys and activities. She loves coming to the Toy Library and choosing what toys she wants to play with for the next few weeks. Her favourite toys are anything to do with wheels: bikes, trucks and trains. She also loves the toy kitchens. In her free time, Maddie is outside in her garden, she loves growing veggies and tending to her rose gardens. In a few months time, Maddie and her family will be welcoming another baby into the family too! As a general committee member, Maddie helps contribute ideas during meetings and helps the toy library operate through volunteering extra time to running borrowing sessions, events and day to day library tasks. 

Emma

General Committee & Volunteer Plus Member

Emma joined our Toy Library in Term 4, 2022 after friends joined another toy library and raved about it, so she was very excited to join ours! This year she's volunteered herself on our committee and is helping us out as a volunteer plus member - doing extra shifts to help us open the library for lending. Her family have really loved the variety of toys available, there is always something different that suits what they're looking for. They've borrowed a lot of the soft play and it's been such a hit for parties and home fun. So far the soft play, ball pit and the water tables have been their favourites but there are so many more to try! They're quite an active family so enjoy going for walks, catching up with friends and just being out and about. We have a large extended family so often spend time catching up with them. As a general committee member, Emma helps contribute ideas during meetings and helps the toy library operate through volunteering extra time to opening and will be helping out with our social media posts in coming months. You might see her when you come to return and borrow toys, or communicate with her online.