Douglas region locals transformed Reynolds Park into a bargain bonanza on Saturday, with about 15 cars popping their boots and selling unwanted goods to raise much-needed funds for the town's community kindergarten. 

PDCK Treasurer Kim Murphy described the event as "a really successful day", raising about $1000 for the not-for-profit organisation. "We had a nice turn out, and there was a good little buzz throughout the day," she said. "Everyone wanted to come in and lend a hand and help out the kindy, so it turned out really well. We had the LJ Hooker bear come for the kids, plus the fire truck and Mr Whippy's ice cream van, and Wheelie Good Coffee came in the morning for the people that were setting up."

Mrs Murphy said the organisation’s committee is keen to hold an annual car boot sale. "We would love for another one to happen next year...and get bigger and better every year," she said. "It just depends on who the committee is next year and whether they're willing to hold one. But we think we've established it well with the first one, and we hope it keeps running."

Meanwhile, the kindy is encouraging parents to consider enrolling their children, with about seven spaces available. As it runs on term fees and fundraising, low enrolments and fewer fundraising events this year mean the not-for-profit organisation is short on money. "Those extra numbers [of enrolments] really do add up,” Mrs Murphy said, adding a lack of resources has forced the committee to cancel the annual Father's Day Picnic fundraising event. "That's been running for 10 or 11 years but we're not holding it this year because we don't have the resources to put it together," Mrs Murphy said. "That’s why we're doing all of these other little fundraising events - the smaller things that are easier for us to organise."

She said while people know about the service, the operating hours might be an issue. "The hours are a little bit shorter than daycare, so it's difficult for parents who are working to have their kids in a shorter day rather than a longer day at daycare."

Children are normally four years old when they start, but the Port Douglas kindy can also take three-and-a-half year olds, turning four in the second half of 2013. "We can integrate them into the kindy program so they know what to expect next year," Mrs Murphy said.

For more information on the kindergarten, call 4098 5811 or email pdck@bigpond.net.au.