Poem written by Playcentre parent, Margot Busby, who has had to leave due to the mandates.

 

Play, learn and grow,

Welcome to our village I read,

Building families within communities,

Inclusive of all, they said.

 

We go along, and push ourselves,

Out of our comfort zone,

Down to our local Playcentre

12 areas of play we are shown.

 

Too much red tape, Too few volunteers,

Too many jobs to do,

Inundated with stacks of paper,

Catching dust since 82.

 

The building, and even the toys are tired

But I glance at the children outside,

I can see the fun awakening, and

Their Imaginations come alive.

 

Slimy gloop has been set up,

And they are covered in it more or less,

Anxious looking around to see,

If it’s ok they’re making such mess.

 

Right then and there I decided,

This was where they needed to be,

A place to do all the untidy things

That spark creativity.

 

As much as it was for them,

At the time I couldn’t see,

That this would develop and eventuate,

Into something I needed for me.

 

I got stuck in, attending workshops,

Qualifying in the courses I had to,

Hours of study and assignments,

Full-time mum then to two under two.

 

Soon we were fully independent,

And the numbers began to grow,

As did the friendships among the parents,

Supporting each other as we go.

 

Together, we renovated the building,

Painting, staining, fixing, and more,

Organising, clearing and sorting toys,

Cleaning everything ceiling to floor.

 

The years went on, and the family grew

So much fun was had,

Babies were born and we helped each other

As mums through good and bad.

 

Suddenly a pandemic swept through the globe

And lockdowns kept us apart

Isolated from the supports we created

And that was just the start.

 

Through the levels we kept in touch online,

Connecting for sanity’s sake,

Until a miracle vaccine appeared

That took 5 minutes to make.

 

Then masks that were for the vulnerable

Were now compulsory for us all

A measure of control to normalise

The next mandate that comes to call.

 

The panic spreading faster

Than covid 19 itself

Any treatment other than vaccines

Abandoned, and taken from the shelf.

 

While the population got their daily dose

Of propaganda from one news

Their single source of truth to trust,

Without realising even they would lose.

 

The right to informed consent,

All information you need to make,

An honest, risk benefit analysis,

For your health for goodness sake.

 

This tyrannic control is easy though,

It Repeats through history,

As power tends to corrupt,

And absolute power corrupts absolutely.

 

“Not only will there be no forced vaccinations,”

She said kindly without a stall,

“But those who choose to opt out,

Won’t face any penalties at all.

 

Ahh but the mandate is still a choice..

For workers in health and ECE,”

NO- ‘Forced’ is exactly what it is,

To choose between wage or autonomy.

 

So Playcentre is also included in that

Parents considered ‘voluntary staff’,

All for a population who isn’t vulnerable

to the virus.. you just have to laugh.

 

Cause if you don’t…you will cry,

Thinking of all the time you spent,

Meeting regulations for a govt

Using coercion instead of consent.

 

So with grief I have had to move on,

And I made playgroup instead

Said goodbye to the centre I built

Looking for the new path ahead.

 

Now I’m out I ask myself,

What is it that I grieve?

I have my village, without the paperwork

What more do I need?

 

I know how important it is now

That children be free to play,

That we are present, and forget about,

Having the house clean for a day.

 

I thank Playcentre for that,

And the teachings I received,

From my role and all the requirements though

I’m happy to be relieved.

 

Even those who vaccinate can recognise

This just isn’t right,

That the federation has rolled over,

Without putting up a fight.

 

For the very principles they teach

And the obligation to the treaty,

For Tino Rangatiratanga,

Chieftainship and sovereignty.

 

However, our children will grow and learn

That their mums stood up for them

Against discrimination, segregation,

Both foundations of communism.

 

As parents we stand together,

For freedom to choose in this nation,

This is on behalf of the mothers,

Raising a critical thinking generation.