Ahost of local child focussed groups are sharing in more than $200,000 in donations from a generous benefactor.

Following its closure almost three years ago, the Mount Gambier Out of School Hours Care (OSHC) has donated $150,000 to the Mount Gambier Council to build an outdoor playground at the railway lands, $35,000 to five local childcare centres and around $26,000 to the Royal Flying Doctors.

The Mount Gambier Child Care Centre, Gladigau Park Kindergarten, Goodstart Early Learning, Acacia Kindergarten and Gordon Education Centre have all benefitted from the generous donation.

Mount Gambier OSCH secretary Trish Matthews said the centre closed in 2019 after 30 years of operation but it has taken two and a half years to finalise the closure and donations to the local community.

“We were an independent group of working mums running the childcare for over 30 years,” Mrs Matthews said.

“We had attained meeting standards which is a big achievement and unusual in an independent body because most are working towards it.”

Mrs Matthews said the organisation’s approach when closing was the excess money would stay in the community and be used for local children.

“Because the OSHC was so well managed we ended up with a huge amount of excess,” she said.

“It was important to us the community knows where that money is going.”

RFDS Mount Gambier Support Group president Bill Russon said, when receiving the donation on Saturday, it was the largest amount the group had received from an independent organisation.

“When we send the money to the Royal Flying Doctors Central, we will note that make a point of this that you would love to put the money towards children’s services,” he said.

“Your effort is fantastic, and it is an incredible donation.

“We cannot thank you enough and we really appreciate it.”