Waiuku Mainly Music celebrated ten years of fun filled sessions on Tuesday 10 April at St Andrews in Waiuku.

Volunteers who started and have continued this program over ten years attended, along with present members, and an anniversary cake was cut.

Gaylyn Wills, who started Waiuku Mainly Music, said, “it’s actually been going for 12 years but we’ve been standing on our own for ten. Barbara Lawrence told me about the program and we thought we’d look into it. We found out the Anglican Church was doing it and went from there!” The first session was run by Gaylyn, her husband Don and Barbara on 30 May 2006 and about seven kids turned up. Within months there was 30 plus children attending and a wait list.

Gaylyn said, “Our aim was to be community focused, have Christian content and work with young families.” When presenting her speech, Gaylyn asked, ‘Have we done that?’ The reply was a unanimous ‘yes’.

Barbara describes the program as a great way for the community to connect. “The kids love it and it’s awesome for mothers as well. It’s special for me to see it like this ten years on!” Although not fully involved in the program now; Barbara, Gaylyn and Don still come to the occasional morning tea.

Anisha Santhoshkumar, Children’s and Young Families Coordinator at St Andrews Centre, has been involved in the program for two years and likes it because of the families and being able to serve the community. “I’m a young mother so it’s nice for me to be able to relate and connect to other mums. We have an excellent team of volunteers that come to help. If all the volunteers in the past had never given their time we wouldn’t be where we are today.”

Anisha says around 40 children come each week. “It’s all about how we can give happiness and how we can make them leave with a smile. There’s a lot happening in their lives that we don’t know about.”

Anybody can attend weekly Mainly Music sessions at St Andrews in Waiuku. The sessions are for 0-5 year olds and their caregivers and starts at 9am every Tuesday.