Federal Member for Gilmore, Ann Sudmalis, secured a promise for $10,000 towards the cost of new playground equipment and playground upgrade.

The money has been used to create a playground based on the theme of nature.

“Teaching children in a natural setting helps them begin the journey of learning in a positive and creative way,” Mrs Sudmalis said.

Parents wanted the playground to be educational as well as fun, resulting in an interactive boat and teepees being added to help unlock children’s imaginations, while linking in with stories of other worlds and different ways of life.

Story time will have a particularly strong focus on culture, Mrs Sudmalis said.

“A ‘yarning circle’ has been installed, showing the preschool’s commitment to supporting indigenous families and culture,” Mrs Sudmalis said.

“This is a wonderful area the preschool children can use to come together and learn with storytelling and group activities.”

Mrs Sudmalis was full of praise for the preschool, which she said had been helping to educate successive generations of children during its 41 years of operation.

“We know how important preschool education is to help build a lifetime of learning, and places like Lyrebird Preschool give children the best possible start,” she said.

Lyrebird Preschool-Kindergarten director Belinda Hibbert praised Mrs Sudmalis’s work in securing the funding.

“She really went out of her way to fight for us,” Ms Hibbert said.

“There was a bit of drama and we came across a few hurdles, but Ann went in and helped to get the money, so we really thank you for making this happen, the kids love it.”