Kinder satisfies demand
Ribbon cut: Bass MLA Ken Smith officially opens the new building, flanked by Inverloch Bendigo Community Bank manager Jackie Laurie and Bass Coast Shire Councillor Ross Smith. Joining them are kinder children Jasmine Jobling, Amy Scott, Chloe Harris, Marnie Banks, Kaylee Gillett and Madison Gillett. Marnie’s grand-mother Biddy Banks was one of the mothers to found the kinder.
INVERLOCH and District Pre-school is coping with the influx of young families to the area since a new building was added.
The $520,000 complex – including a classroom, kitchen, toilets and outdoor area – was officially opened by Bass MLA Ken Smith on Friday to service the pre-school’s 135 children.
Before the new building, many Inverloch children were being sent to kinders in Wonthaggi. As pre-schools filled there, children travelled to kinder at San Remo. Others simply missed out.
The extra room will also meet the Federal Government’s requirement for children to attend kinder 15 hours a week from next year.
Pre-school committee member Belinda Scott said she always knew the project would become reality when a metropolitan newspaper published a photo of Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s office. In that room was a picture from the Inverloch pre-school kids, sent with a letter asking for funding.
Ms Scott paid tribute to the support of staff and the community.
“This building was made possible by the contributions of many who, without your support, this building would not have been built,” she said.
Ms Scott, together with past presidents Lisa Butcher and Kate Dwyer and committee project manager Jess Beachley, drove the project.
Mr Smith said the extension was vital.
“They have a full house now and that shows the need for this to finally be done,” he said.
The building has been operational since term two this year, and was funded with $200,000 from the State Government, $150,000 from Bass Coast Shire Council, and $170,000 from the pre-school and community.
Committee vice president Theresa Dennerley attended the pre-school as a child and now her children do.
Children and their families filled the playground for the opening, as well as such sponsors as the Rotary and Lions clubs, and Dot McGarvey, one of the mothers who helped make the original building a reality in 1968.
Retired teacher Jill Dunn was praised for 22 years’ service: from 1989-96 as three-year-old co-ordinator and from 1997-2001 as four-year-old assistant.
She said: “It’s wonderful to see such a big group of the community here today. It’s been a privilege to work with you.”
Current director Carly Buckland said of Ms Dunn: “She just knows what to do and say to bring around a group of children. She always has a kind and positive way to view the situation and find a solution to the problem.”
John Murray of the Department of Education conducted an indigenous smoking ceremony to cleanse the land of spiritual unrest.
Project manager Trevor Bowler of TS Constructions, Wonthaggi, was pleased with the result.
“It was good to be involved with a project that will provide a service for all the young families that are moving into the area,” he said.
“There were some very generous donations from the community that enabled the project to happen.”
The building was designed by Darren Brown Designs of Wonthaggi and completed by local tradespeople.
Marjorie Jane Scott of Books and Massage at Inverloch happily donated towards the project.
“Education is really important, so I regularly donate to the kinder and the primary school and Kongwak Primary School,” she said.
Children’s artwork was on show for parents to enjoy.
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