Ready to celebrate their kindergarten’s 60th birthday are, back from left, Kane, Olivia and Flynn; and front, Alex, Kiara and Sean. 37472Picture: Nigel Clements
By Casey Neill
FERNTREE Gully’s Bena Angliss Kindergarten will next week celebrate its 60th birthday.
The centre will welcome past and current families to the centre on Sunday, 25 October, to mark the milestone and officially open its new sensory play area and environmental garden.
Teacher Kay McAloney’s has worked at the Forest Road kinder since 1990 and said strong community spirit and support had always been a part of it.
Sir William Angliss donated cash for the centre in 1945 and offered it his wife Jacobena’s name. Lady Angliss officially opened the kinder on 1 October 1949. The first class, of 50 children, attended on 27 March 1950.
Donations of cash and goods kept the kinder going in its early years, and parents were rostered on for cleaning duties because there were not enough funds for a professional.
The centre’s biggest challenge came in July 1995 when it was set alight.
Smoke and water damage forced it to close for term three and relocate 57 children.
But local traders, parents and staff banded together with donations and hard work to get the kinder back up and running for term four.
Today there are 50 children enrolled at the pre-school.
Ms McAloney said they were enjoying a $15,000 outdoor upgrade aimed at getting kids back outside.
She said it had been at least 15 years since the yard’s last make-over.
It is now home to flowers for butterflies and insects, flat rocks to encourage lizards, vegies, herbs and more and has a water-conservation focus.
“They need to own the planet and understand the importance of caring for the environment,” Ms McAloney said.
“With our 50th we looked back at what had passed. Now we’re looking forward.”
