Two women who keep the Katikati Toy Library alive and well – in front and behind the scenes – have this month been made life members of the non-profit group by its committee.

Toy librarian Sandy Goode was bestowed her life membership at the Katikati Toy Library committee’s Annual General Meeting on March 12 in recognition of her ongoing efforts to keep the library operating across more than three decades.

The committee members said they regarded Goode as “the heart and soul of Katikati Toy Library”, who does everything in her power to run and grow the community asset she’s a founding member of.

Jean Peat was awarded her Katikati Toy Library life membership for her unwavering support of Goode by volunteering at the library for the last nine years – often when no other volunteers were available.

Sandy’s journey

Goode said she was helping with ante-natal classes locally in the 1990s when she met Phillippa Wright and Wendy Shanley, “who were the driving force behind opening Katikati’s toy library”.

“A few of us joined the first committee and got it up and running in 1995.”

Goode’s contribution to the library had morphed into her becoming the toy librarian – eventually, a paid position – and she’d never stopped being part of the community asset. “It’s been 31 years now,” Goode said.

Sandy Goode, pictured, is a founding member of Katikati Toy Library and has consistently volunteered at the community facility for 31 years. Photo / Merle Cave

Why keep at it? “I just believe in it. Don’t get me started on why toy libraries don’t get government funding like book libraries do,” she said.

“I support book libraries receiving funding but I do believe toys are just as important in children’s lives – I believe that our children should have this asset.

“There’s been times when I’ve thought about going ... then my grandson came along and my interest and love for it was renewed.

Goode said one main reason she kept involved was seeing when children entered the library. “That’s what I love the most – I see how they first react to the toys.”

Enter Jean

It was also Goode who approached Peat to join the library as a grandparent member nearly a decade ago. “I only joined because Sandy drove up my driveway as an RD [Rural Delivery postie driver] and saw my two oldest grandkids and asked me, ‘Why don’t you join the toy library?’ I asked, ‘What’s the toy library?’ I didn’t know they existed.”

Peat said she initially offered to volunteer once a month at the library. That turned more frequent very quickly. Now her grandchildren, who Goode spotted in the backyard all those years ago, are 11.

Jean Peat has become Katikati Toy Library’s lifeline helper after getting involved about nine years ago. Photo / Merle Cave

“Those grandchildren used to visit from the Netherlands and it was great to be able to borrow toys for them,” Peat said. “I just come down and do my thing, checking toys.”

Through the library, Goode and Peat had built a special friendship. “Once I had a bill I couldn’t pay, and Jean and her husband Harold paid it for me,” Goode said.

“I like helping at the toy library because used to work as a teacher and was always in charge of resources,” Peat said. “I went to so many schools where resources weren’t organised. I love order – so this is a job where I can do order.”

The unseen work

Peat had become indispensable to Goode and the toy library. Her work included counting toys, reorganising stock, preparing toys for their first loan, repairing toys and making systems for missing and replacement pieces right through to opening the library when Goode and her committee couldn’t.

Sandy Goode and Jean Peat hard at work, talking toys inside Katikati Toy Library. Photo / Merle Cave

Why does she like the toy library? “People think the toy library is only for youngsters but there are many toys and activities here that 12-year-olds will play with and enjoy.

“When I have grandkids to stay, they can have a whole morning just on one toy – that’s great for me! I don’t have to occupy them and when they leave, I bring the toys back!

“My grandkids now go online and pick out toys on our library’s ‘Click and Collect’ system.”

Peat said the toy library also offered an incredibly affordable way to expose children to toys as they grow.

“My toy library account says I’ve borrowed $17,000 worth of toys since I joined. That’s how much it would have cost me to buy them.”

‘Couldn’t’ without her

Asked what Peat means to the toy library, Goode said: “I couldn’t run it without her”.

Goode said Peat had become her lifeline, especially for covering shifts and cataloguing. “Every decision I make, I now run past Jean,” Goode said. “Often, if she didn’t open the library, it just wouldn’t open.”

Peat said the reason she and Harold paid a bill for Goode years ago was “because we saw how hard she worked at this place”. “I think Sandy should be recognised for all the extra hours she does at the toy library above her paid hours – her life membership is recognition.”

Incredibly grateful

Katikati Toy Library Committee co-president Merle Cave said Goode’s life-membership award was “well overdue”, considering all the work she’d put into the library across 31 years.

“And to be able to honour her friend and most-hard-working volunteer Jean Peat [with a life membership] at the same time was beautiful.

“They work together as a team so well – and the committee is so incredibly grateful for everything that Sandy and Jean do for our community’s toy library. It was an honour to be able to recognise their hard work, passion and love for this huge community asset.”

Find out more about the Katikati Toy Library at: https://katikatitoylibrary.org.nz.

*Disclaimer: Merle Cave is employed as editor of Katikati News and volunteers as co-president of the Katikati Toy Library Committee.