Mothers Living Well Street Play Event & Launch of the Mothers Living Well Bayswater Community Plan.

What was the Mothers Living Well Bayswater Street Play Event?
December 2008, children, parents, seniors and people from all backgrounds and experience living near or attended groups in the Blue Hills/ Bayswater West area came together for a great event on the street at the intersection of Warruga Avenue and Phyllis St. The intersection was closed to traffic from 10am-4.30pm for this special street play event.

People participated together in a range of activities including street cricket, egg and spoon races, giant board games and music & dance. Some sat and relaxed under the shady trees with a latte from the coffee van. Bunnings ran a “get potty” activity and face painting, which the children raved about long afterwards. The local church, school, preschool, maternal child health, play groups, scout group, Bowling Club & cricket club all contributed to the range of activities and created banners to display at the street play event.

The day reached crescendo with the slow bike race with students from Bayswater West Primary school leading the pack to get to the finish line last without touching the ground with their feet. (harder than it sounds). As families and parents picked up students and joined the celebrations the crowd of nearly 300 people were led to help in the launch of the Mothers Living Well Bayswater Community plan. The plan was launched by Shaune Leanne (local MP), Chris Potter (Knox Community Health Service CEO) and Donna Dikort (a local mother & staunch advocate of walking & neighborhood involvement). Feedback from the event showed the importance of spaces and events, especially for children, but also for elderly and mothers generally run in streetscapes. It drew attention to the idea that streets (on top of being places for people to drive through) are primarily places where people also play, meet, build connections, rest and walk and cycle.

Feedback from the Mothers Living Well Bayswater Street Play Event
“It’s about the importance of making us more community minded and meeting each other. It’s amazing how many people live so close to each other but not know each other. If we had more of these, (events) people might be happier to have their children playing outside.”


“It was good. I liked the pots and
painting. It’s good without
the cars
because I can do anything I want.”

“It was fun.
We liked it with no cars.
It was good fun to be able to walk
there up the street.”


“I was able to ride
my bike to here.”