New Playcentre President for 60th year

New Playcentre President for 60th year

Media Release
28 May 2007

Marion Pilkington, of Auckland, has been appointed President of the New Zealand Playcentre Federation, succeeding Mrs Robynn Kopua of Lower Hutt in continuing the Playcentre goal of ‘families learning and growing together’.

During her term as president, Marion is keen to promote the unique qualities of Playcentre and how these support not only the children, but also the family as a whole, and the wider community. She also wants to support the organisation through the current period of change and challenges Playcentre faces with more and more mothers being encouraged back into the work force.

“Children are our future, and we need to continue to support parents as first educators of their children by providing them with the opportunity to learn along side their children in a safe, supportive environment. Through our adult education program, and parents being involved and learning along side their children, Playcentre will continue to provide quality Early Childhood Education, provide opportunity for adult learning, and support families and communities.”

Marion Pilkington’s involvement with Playcentre began when her first child was a toddler. She has a 24-year association of working in her community for Playcentre, firstly in Narrowneck Playcentre, and ten years for North Shore Association in the roles of Treasurer, Secretary and President. In 2001 she was made a Life Member of that Association. While being involved in her children’s early childhood education she also continued her own education in parenting, child development, Treaty education and exploring her Maori Heritage. She completed the Diploma in Not-for Profit Management and continues working with communities in her role as a Community Centre Manager on Auckland’s North Shore.

Marion Pilkington has been vice president of the Playcentre Federation since 2005, and previously held the position of Federation Treasurer. She has a background in accounting and administration and, together with her husband Nigel, operates a PR and Marketing Consultancy business on the North Shore. The couple have five children, three of them adults and two teenagers, all of whom attended Playcentre before going on to School. She also has one granddaughter who is looking forward to starting Playcentre.

ENDS

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