The Village

Have you heard about our new play space, The Village? Maybe you’ve seen children playing in it as you’ve driven down Tindals Road. It’s new, it’s fun and it’s very special.

The Village is a wonderful addition to our Primary Playground, created in memory of a DCC Year 2 student, Jemima Barton, who passed away in January 2014. Jemima was an outgoing, friendly and happy girl, who loved Jesus, DCC, being in nature, beautiful gardens and playing on the playground. She loved lollies, chocolate and jumping castles. Jemima was a dearly loved daughter and friend who delighted in imaginary play and making sure that others were welcome in her games.

The Village has been carefully designed and built in honour, remembrance and celebration of Jemima and the wonderful characteristics that she exuded each day. It has 4 distinct elements, each making the Village a place of belonging and inclusion for our primary students.

• The first element of The Village is Jemima’s House. This is the heart of the village. It has been purposefully designed to be a rustic earthy hut that honours the warmth and sense of belonging that Jemima inspired.
• The next element is the Musical Bells, as Jemima loved the natural fauna at DCC. The flower and dragonfly instruments are positioned in the centre of The Village, bringing children together through music and song. 
• We have included 2 shops, a Bakery and Blacksmith. The shops are places to interact and include fellow villagers through creative play. It is our hope that they will be a place where friendship groups come together and also where new connections can be made. 

• And finally, there are some sitting logs placed around The Village for friends, existing and new, to sit, watch, talk or rest and admire our wonderful DCC surroundings.

   

We are thankful for the creative thought that has gone into The Village and celebrate the combined effort and planning of Brendan Deith and Robyn Berands who were the designers of our new play space. We also acknowledge that it takes a village to build The Village, and we are grateful for the hard work and craftsmanship of our Grounds and Maintenance team who turned the vision into a reality.

1 Peter 4 reminds us of the importance of being part of a village, a community of believers and people who welcome and encourage one another. It says, 

‘Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay. God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever!’

The Village is a place that symbolises the story of who Jemima was, and the heart of our DCC community – one where joy, fun and play are celebrated through friendship and inclusion every day.