Possums Playcentre, which has been a staple in the Taroona community for nearly 40 years, may have to close doors in November.
Possums is a nature-based, community-run playground for three- to five-year-olds that operates out of Taroona Community Hall on 6 Batchelor Way, Taroona.
The playcentre is known for utilising its local environment and community, with the children taken on excursions to the nearby beach and bushland, as well as enjoying visits from a colourful range of community members, from musicians and artists to firefighters and more.
Possums’ main educator, Susan Depaoli, is facing the tough decision of whether to renew the playcentre’s licence or not.
“It’s up in the air a little bit,” Susan said.
“Finances are a big consideration because we’ve had the rent for the community hall going up and some of the insurances have increased too.
“We would probably need some sponsorships to keep going.
“Enrolments are something we need as well.”
Social worker Alesandra Downes has stepped in to help.
Alesandra is working on community outreach and development for Possums as part of a 500-day placement through the University of Tasmania.
“This involves exploring possibilities of increasing interest for 2026 enrolments, and in turn, combatting those rising costs,” Alesandra said.
This has included reviving Possums Playcentre’s online presence and spreading the word about Possums over social media and via QR codes set up across Kingborough.
“I don’t want to lose the essence of what Possums is,” Alesandra said.
“It’s grassroots to Taroona; it really holds that essence of community.”
Parents and educators past and present all commented to the Kingborough Chronicle editor that the friends formed at Possums are friends for life.
None of them want to lose this.
Lyn Long was one of the first educators to join Possums Playcentre after it formed in 1988.
She ended up working there for over 30 years.
“The playcentre was started by a group of Taroona mums who realised there wasn’t anything in Taroona for childcare,” Lyn said.
A community survey was conducted in November 1987 to gain support for a non-profit playcentre in the area.
On February 24, 1988, Possums Playcentre officially started in the Taroona Community Hall with an enrolment of 18 children.
Lyn originally only intended to work at Possums for a little while before returning to her job as a teacher at Fahan School but she fell in love with the playcentre and ended up remaining there for the rest of her working life.
“Being there with young children and their enthusiasm for life and working with the other staff was terrific,” Lyn said, who retired in 2021.
“I look upon it as my family.”
Parents and kids loved Lyn too, with parent Natalie Tapson, whose oldest son Tom enrolled at Possums in its second year, noting that Lyn was a favourite amongst all of her children.
“It was a special free time,” Natalie said.
“It was a relaxed, happy place.”
One of Lyn’s favourite memories of Possums is establishing a vegetable garden in 2008 that is still thriving today.
“The children learned a lot,” she said.
“And they did love their broccoli!”
Current educator Susan Depaoli summed up the playcentre as a “labour of love.”
“We run lots of little activities, whether it’s a painting activity or a sensory play or cooking,” Susan said.
“Because it’s so small and we can utilise our natural bush environment we’re in a unique location.
“We’ve got a lot of local, natural play areas we can utilise.
“It’s a meeting point for the parents too, they’ll often come and stay after Possums has finished in the play areas to have a chat.
“It’s a beautiful little community.”
While there is a committee hard at work to keep Possums Playcentre afloat, social worker Alesandra Downes is hopeful that if the playcentre has to close the community can celebrate the impact it’s had over the years.
You can help by sharing your memories of Possums Playcentre.
Email them to editorial@kchronicle.com.au
It’s not curtain call yet, however.
Susan has noted that “enrolments are starting to look up.”
“We’ve gone from one potential enrolment for 2026 to over 20,” Susan said.
Possums Playcentre is looking for sponsorships and expressions of interest to keep them going.
