Gathering for grandparents

THE important role of grandparents in local families was highlighted last Friday with the fourth Grandparents Christmas Picnic being held at the Wollongong Botanic Gardens.

Around 70 grandparents and more than 80 children were involved on the day, which involved a feast of fairy bread, marshmallows and lollies for the children and coffee and slices for the grandparents.

Games, craft, face-painting and live entertainment were also organised for the morning.

Among the grandparents at the celebration were Wollongong couple Raymond and Carole Lewis with their two-year-old granddaughter Piper Farrell.

The Lewis grandparents look after Piper while her mother is at work, an arrangement which Ms Lewis said she and her husband both enjoy thoroughly.

“We get to have the fun,” she said.

Ms Lewis said grandparents play a very important part in the family, especially with many couples both working.

“We are important especially to help out the parents,” he said.

“With two parents working you’ve got to help out where you can.”

Another pair of grandparents, Bob and Kay Sellars from Sydney were also enjoying the activities with their young grandchildren Zoe and Alyssa last Friday.

Ms Sellars travels down from Sydney every week to help look after her grandchildren.

Mr Sellars said family is the underpinning institution of Australia itself.

“The family unit is what keeps the country going,” he said.

As part of the day, grandchildren were able to present their grandparents with a seedling, as a token of their appreciation for the older family members.

Wollongong Lord Mayor Councillor Alex Darling said last week Council wanted to use the picnic to recognise the great work of grandparents in the area.

“This is a chance for Wollongong City Council to join with the community to say thank you to grandparents who provide vital roles in the development of future generations,” he said.