A little slice of Frankston is on its way to Cambodia
Published on 16 February 2026
Equipment from five of Council’s play spaces will soon begin a brand‑new chapter far from home — thanks to Council's partnership with Rotary Peninsula 2.0 ‘Play It Forward’ initiative and some special volunteers.
The first pieces to make the journey are from Ferndale Reserve, which is undergoing an upgrade in the next few months. The equipment will soon be on its way to Siem Reap, Cambodia, where it will be rebuilt in a community for children who’ve rarely (if ever) had access to a playground.
But this isn’t just a program. It’s personal.
Rotary Peninsula 2.0 Past President Trudy Poole, and her husband, Russell, have been supporting projects in Cambodia for 20 years. During this time, they formed lifelong connections and saw firsthand that something was missing in schools and communities that we can often take for granted – a play ground that can make a difference to children’s lives.
“A playground is more than just a slide, a ladder, or a swing. It is a gateway to adventure, a place where, even for just 10 minutes, kids can escape the pressures of daily life,” Trudy said.
“For a child living in a place like Cambodia, this may be the only time they get to feel free to be whoever or whatever they want to be.
“We found a Rotary project - Rotary Overseas Recycled Playgrounds (ROARP) - that ‘harvested’ playgrounds destined for landfill that were available to be repurposed overseas, so we decided to do something about it.”
Rotary Peninsula 2.0 works closely with Heart Print, a local Cambodian NGO, to unload each container, repair, paint and reassemble every piece with support from locals. And the joy when it all comes together? Unforgettable.
“Children often rush up asking, “How much do we need to pay?” — not realising the playground is a gift just for them,” Trudy said.
“Another unexpected benefit is that more parents are coming to schools for parent-teacher interviews because the children are safe and have somewhere to play.”
While the year has just kicked off, Rotary already has equipment from 19 play spaces on pallets, ready for future shipments overseas (to add to the 26 play spaces they have already shipped to Cambodia in the past 15 months!
The first shipment from Frankston City ships out on 7 March and equipment from four more Council playgrounds will follow throughout this year.
This initiative isn’t just helping communities overseas — it also supports Council’s commitment to waste minimisation and gives great equipment a meaningful second life.
Stay tuned for updates from Cambodia!
Image: Cr Steffie Conroy lends a hand as Rotary Peninsula 2.0 volunteers dismantle play equipment at Ferndale Reserve.