“She is truly one of a kind!” Larissa Taylor finished up at Kardinia Playgroups after looking after families in the Geelong community for over 20 years. Here are a few loving words from those she’s supported:
“Larissa is life-saving. Inspirational!” Kylie, who knew Larissa for 10 years.
Phoebe, “Friends for over a decade as my family of five boys have all come through Larissa’s Playgroups. She’s given our family nothing but fun and love.”
“She has welcome us with open arms. She helped my son open up and build his confidence. Now, thanks to her, he’s resilient and loving life!” adds Mary-Anne.
From Chantal, “I reconnected with Larissa after relocating back to Geelong, and going through some significant changes in my life. Larissa has been a rock to myself, and so many other people, especially over the last few years. I’m extremely grateful our paths crossed and we get to share our journeys in life.
“Larissa truly puts her whole heart into everything she does, and even when she’s experiencing her own challenges, she puts those aside to ensure that all of our needs are met. She’s compassionate, passionate, courageous and infectious (in a good way).
“She has a heart for encouraging, connecting and supporting people through the many challenges we face in life. Having this support from Larissa has helped draw me out of some dark places back into the light.”
From Alyssa, “For me her generousity, creativity, passion and desire for everyone to feel loved, valued and seen are the things that I have really valued and appreciated. My kids absolutely adore Larissa, because she is fun, safe, and full of light and love.
“I am grateful for the way she has kept me feeling connected to community and church (especially during Covid). Playgroup in the parks, showbags and the check-ins she provided during covid proved nothing will ever come in the way of her desire to be there for and to champion others. She truly is one of a kind!”
Larissa is keen to give us a brief history of her time at Kardinia Playgroups:
End of 2001 I was asked if I would join the current Toddler time playgroup team.
Anne Marie Stewart was running it with a team of five women two sessions a week.
By mid-2002 I was a group leader one day a week and a helper on the other day.
End of 2002 Anne Marie finished up. 2003 we realise we needed a new leader,
Dominic was suggested to be the leader, but Dominic said at the time that I was the one who had that experience and so I started to oversee the team in 2003.
We added more sessions in 2003 and by 2004 we had 4 sessions of structured
Playgroups per week.
Wider outreach became our focus. 2004 was our first community end of year
children’s concert on Sunday service. 2012 was our last Sunday concert as we could no long fit all the families in both of our venues.
2005 Kardinia Playgroups also started at our Belmont location, at this stage I came onto paid staff, we also added a admin position 1/2 day a week.
2005 I was asked to join the ‘Best Start’ project with Geelong Council and still until 2021 was an active member of the council committee.
2012 we changed your name from Toddler Time Ministries to Kardinia Playgroups.
2009 we launched our community musical garden children’s week events and joined with carols to run a carnival before the show, we slowly added more community open outreach events Including moving our Sunday concert to 5 week long concerts – Easter celebrations, Christmas Teddy bears picnic, pirate week and book week .
2019 Statistics showed on average over 1500 came to each of
these week-long events from all across our regions.
2008 we started a playgroup community Facebook page
2014 We created online team page for training, info, questions and absentee
notifications on team replacements.
2014 we created a leadership facilitator video training page.
Our program evolved to fit our community needs.
2006 we launched our music and movement program
2006 we launched our Tinies program
2010 we launched our pre-literacy book club program
2010 Geelong council asked us to make a few changes to our playgroup program to officially make it a pre-kinder program
2013 We launched our special needs playgroup and at the end of 2013 we reviewed it as families loved being part of the mainstream programs so we made all our sessions all abilities, Anaphylactic friendly and inclusive.
2015 we launched our Ballarat programs
2015 we launched at Warrnambool program (on pause)
In 2018 we added discounts to families on Blue pension cards, NDIS and disability card holders.
In 2018 we added Auslan to expand out all access to all children policy.
During Covid we launched online classrooms and YouTube channel in
Warrnambool, Ballarat and Bell Post Hill.
We send a huge thank you to Larissa and wish this amazing, inspirational individual, all the very best.
HuG 