From humble beginnings, the Rotary Overseas Repurposed/Relocated Playgrounds (RORP) project has given children’s playgrounds no longer needed in Australia a second life. Thanks to the tireless efforts of passionate Rotarians and friends, what started as a small initiative – where Rotary teams physically dismantling playgrounds in local municipalities – has now grown into an industry-recognised enterprise.
Today, RORP has grown with four dedicated harvesting groups (Rotary Clubs of Nunawading, Mount Martha, Geelong Central, and Mount Barker) leading the charge. The playground recycling industry now values RORP so highly that dismantling is often done by contractors, freeing Rotary to carry out other tasks such as taking photos for the development of the plans, negotiating agreements, coding/painting all playground components, removing the dismantled playground and transporting it to storage ready for shipment, ensuring playgrounds are repurposed and relocated efficiently to children in those parts of the world who would otherwise not have the joy of playing on equipment no longer considered suitable for children in Australia.This growth has raised its own challenges: as the project expands; so does the need for more hands and hearts to continue its success.
The Next Step: RORP2025 & The Need for a New Sub-Group
We now face 
a critical challenge: servicing Rotary Districts 9790 and 9800 efficiently from existing harvesting groups is becoming increasingly difficult. To ensure we save more playgrounds from landfill and continue to bring joy to more children overseas, we need a dedicated RORP sub-group for District 9790 and 9800.
a critical challenge: servicing Rotary Districts 9790 and 9800 efficiently from existing harvesting groups is becoming increasingly difficult. To ensure we save more playgrounds from landfill and continue to bring joy to more children overseas, we need a dedicated RORP sub-group for District 9790 and 9800.Why Does This Matter?
The RORP 2025 model has made it easier than ever to be part of this life-changing project. With contractors handling dismantling, the role of Rotary is now about coordination, logistics, and ensuring that playgrounds get to where they are needed most.
What do what we need?
✔ A new cross-club, cross-district team to serve 9790 and 9800
✔ A small but committed group – a pool of just 15 volunteers means minimal individual commitment
✔ RC Nunawading will lead coordination, managing playground offers, planning, finances, and shipping
✔ Secure storage will remain at a Kilsyth South property.
Time t
o Step Up – The Kids Can’t WaitPerfectly good playgrounds are going into landfill when they could be changing lives. RORP not only reduces the amount of rubbish dumped but every dismantled and repurposed playground means hundreds of children in developing countries get the chance to play, laugh, and just be kids. But this can only happen, if we act now.
RORP needs YOU: can you help with coordination, logistics, or just be part of the network? Even the smallest contribution multiplies into a massive impact.
💡This is your chance to be part of a great Rotary project which has the potential to be even bigger. Join the RORP2025 team today and make sure no playground becomes rubbish when it could be giving joy to children in the underdeveloped world.
The pay-off? Ensuring a still operational playground isn’t assigned to the tip but brings social/health benefits to less privileged children in the third world.
Act Now!
📧 Contact Peter Cribb – Rotary Club of Flemington Kensington
📩 ptcribb@gmail.com | 📞 0410 548 543
📩 ptcribb@gmail.com | 📞 0410 548 543
From the top: assembled playground in Sri Lanka; Rotarians dismantling and loading playgrounds; .children at play on repurposed/relocated playground equipment.