By Kyra Gillespie
Pakenham Kindergarten proudly unveiled their brand new premises following a refurbishment worth over $650,000.
Parliamentary Secretary for Childhood Education Sonya Kilkenny, Bass MP Jordan Crugnale and Deputy Mayor Cr Collin Ross joined students, teachers and members of the Parent Advisory Group for the official opening on Thursday 4 April.
The kinder redevelopment, made possible through a partnership between Cardinia Shire and the state government, has made way for a revamped entrance. extension to the outdoor undercover area and improved bathroom facilities.
The Andrews Government pitched $350,000 into the project through a Children’s Facilities Capital Program Grant, with the council funding the remainder.
“We know taking part in a quality kinder program at an early age leads to positive effects on children’s development, wellbeing and learning, which is why we’re upgrading facilities and helping young children to get a great start,” Ms Kilkenny said.
“It’s tremendous to see all the work the community has done with this funding, all while keeping the heritage look and feel.”
Pakenham Kindergarten is the oldest kinder in the shire; having fire started up in an infant welfare centre in the 1940s and built in the 1950s where is still stands today.
The Parent Advisory Group (PAG) and the staff lobbied the council for a number of years for funding to spruce up the tired facilities, succeeding in securing a grant around four years ago.
“Originally it started as wanting to upgrade our bag room as it was quite congested and a hazard for the children, and then it stemmed from there,” 2018 PAG president Sharyn Heaphy said.
“It went from the whole building upgrade which was just amazing; we were able to upgrade a lot of the areas and expand it so that we could actually increase our numbers as well.
“The big feature was it becoming accessible, being the first kinder in Cardinia, it was a bit of an older and tired building. It had a lot of country charm and a beautiful feel about it, so we wanted to maintain the heritage of it while upgrading it to be accessible for all people.
“We fought very hard for several years to get the funding from the government; we finally got the $350,000 which would thought would be enough, but then the council stepped in for further studies and joined in on the funding.”
Once the funds were secured and construction commenced, staff and PAG members dedicated the entire Christmas holidays moving the kindergarten to the Hollin’s Childrens Centre while the building was upgraded.
“It was a massive effort, especially from a lot of teachers who gave up their time to relocate and unpack during the term two holidays,” Ms Heaphy said.
“It’s the kind of kinder that captures the community spirit; I don’t know anyone who comes through who doesn’t have a special tie to it. I’ve never experienced anything like it.”
Ms Kilkenny and Ms Crugnale also visited two Pakenham kindergartens to see how new school readiness funding is helping young children to thrive, thanks to a $58.1 million investment from the Labor Government.
Children at Henry Family Children’s Centre and Lakeside Children’s Centre are among the first to benefit from a share in the funding.
Henry Family Children’s Centre and Lakeside Children’s Centre both received around $80,000 in needs-based school readiness funding.
They are among 580 kindergarten services across 25 local government areas in Victoria to receive school readiness funding in 2019.
“Bass is ranked one of the highest in the State for children with developmental vulnerabilities,” Ms Crugnale said.
“This school readiness funding is another way we are delivering first-class kinder services for our youngest learners.”
