Peter Charleton hires out jumping castles for free
WHEN it comes to making people jump for joy, this dad from Dixons Creek is king of the castle.
Outer East
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WHEN it comes to making people jump for joy, Peter Charleton is king of the castle.
The Dixons Creek dad of two began the Free Jumping Castle Service in 2016, lending out castles for free to families who couldn’t afford to hire one.
The idea began when he was running as an independent candidate in the federal election, and took an old jumping castle he had in his shed, and set it up at community events.
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He now has five castles and spends most weekends setting them up at events and parties across Yarra Ranges, Knox and Maroondah, returning several hours later to pick them up. He recently notched up his 250th free booking.
“It’s hard work but it’s so rewarding,” Mr Charleton said.
“On a Sunday night when the weekend is over I sit down and think ‘Gee I’m glad I did that again’.”
“It becomes addictive, the thank you and appreciation you get.
“I just keep going and I don’t know how I’m going to stop.
He said there were a lot of families in the community who were really battling.
“I try to market it as a service for people who couldn’t afford it or couldn’t justify spending that money on a jumping castle.
“People really appreciate it because everyone wants to do the best they can for their kids.
“I reckon if you can get a mud cake and candles and a jumping castle you can make a party.”
The first 100 bookings were without any outside financial help, but Mr Charleton has since invited business sponsorship, which are covering most of his public liability insurance costs.
Kilsyth mum Bek Stephens has used the free service several times.
“It meant a lot to me — at the time I was a single mum with three children so it meant a great deal.
“I think (Peter) is extremely generous, I think he’s got a big beautiful heart and a lot of time for the community.”
Mr Charleton makes a habit of helping others. He stepped in to help Mentone woman Anne Simpson clean up her garden last year, after she received an anonymous note calling it “a pigsty”. After reading about her plight in Leader he drove from the Yarra Valley to Mentone on three separate days to help.
He also arranged for Dixons Creek Primary School students to send Christmas cards to the elderly last year.
And in the coming weeks he plans to take the free jumping castle service to a drought stricken farming family in NSW for the day, along with a truck filled with hay.
To support him, go to facebook.com/freejumpingcastles
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