The Childers community has a much-cherished and jealously guarded stake in the past, present and future operation of the C&K Isis Community Preschool & Kindergarten.
The kindy will be celebrating its 60th anniversary next year with Saturday, September 19 2020 set aside for the anniversary festivities.
Centre director Rhonda Campbell said the kindergarten had a long and colourful association with the Childers community.
“Generations of many local families have now passed through the gates of the kindy,” Rhonda said.
“It is a much loved and revered place of education and has thrived in the good times, battled for survival during the leaner years but continues to be an ongoing story with a new chapter and new faces every year.”
The kindy was developed in 1960 with the help of many individuals and, notably, the Apex Club of Childers.
“In 2010 we celebrated the kindy’s 50th anniversary and I was fortunate enough to catch up with the original director of the Isis Public Kindergarten, Pearl Bates.
“Unfortunately, Pearl has since passed away. On hearing of her passing the Kindy Committee wrote a letter of condolence to her family.
“A return letter was received from a grateful family member. In part, it read: “Many thanks to you and your committee for your kind expression of sympathy to our family on the death of our dear mother Pearl.
To think that you elevated her to a ‘legend’ in the Childers community for the contribution she made in setting up the first kindy in the town makes us extremely proud of our mum.
“She often spoke of the difficult task it was being the first director of the kindy but her job was made so much easier by the wonderful support she received from the Childers community.
“Thank you once again for your sympathy to us but more importantly the recognition by the committee of what our mother did for the community in her home town of Childers.”
Rhonda said while some memorabilia remained from the 2010 celebrations it would be appreciated if past kindy kids, or past committee members or Isis Kindy families could provide their pieces of memorabilia to add to the flavor of the celebration.
“I think the current committee would like this anniversary to be a whole-hearted celebration of the community ownership of our kindy.
“Given the hours of volunteered time, countless fundraisers, working bees and dedication that has been invested over the years by dedicated groups of parents and supporters, the 60 year anniversary is an ideal time to reflect on that contribution and just what it has meant to the Childers community.
“Kindy has been a great place, a safe and secure learning centre for children but it has also been a place of social interaction between staff and parents,” she said.
Further enquiries regarding the 60th anniversary can be directed to Rhonda Campbell at isiskindie@bigpond.com or phone 4126 1241.
