By Tanya Faulkner
A beloved community member bids her farewell to Cockatoo.
Darlene Elder has celebrated her retirement from Cockatoo Kindergarten this month, as she steps back from her teaching role after 40 years in the school.
Ms Elder said her retirement was a long time coming.
“I’m tired to be honest, it’s a really bittersweet feeling,” she said.
For Ms Elder, it’s been amazing to see how the kindergarten has gone on and flourished in her time there, and become such an important part of the community.
“I’ve seen and taught generations of children through Cockatoo Kindergarten, with some students that I taught years ago now bringing their own children in,” she said.
Becoming an early childhood teacher wasn’t always on the cards for Ms Elder, who said she originally wanted to go into secondary education.
“I had one of my final placements in year 12, thinking I wanted to be a secondary teacher, and decided to try out a kindergarten.
“I fell in love with it, and went back and told my teachers that I wanted to go into early childhood.
“They were horrified when I told them, but they didn’t know that early childhood is the most important education, to get the foundations right for further education in school,” she said.
For Ms Elder, the most rewarding experience in her career has been becoming part of the Cockatoo community.
“I never expected to be someone who stayed in the same place and really became part of the community.
“I’ve seen generations come through Cockatoo, because I live here as well, so I’ve seen the good and the bad of the Hills,” she said.
Cockatoo locals are also feeling mixed emotions, both happy for Ms Elder and her retirement, but also wishing she could stay on ‘just a bit longer’ to teach their kids as well.
On Friday 15 September, Cockatoo Kindergarten hosted a community afternoon tea and farewell party for those wanting to wish Ms Elder their best wishes for her last session, which saw many locals come and enjoy the afternoon together.
Ms Elder said the whole ordeal was a big surprise to her.
“The kindergarten organised a retirement dinner for me a couple of weeks ago, so I thought that was it.
“There were a lot of presentations, and a few tears,” she said.
Cockatoo Kindergarten teacher Lauren Purdie, who will be taking over for Ms Elder, said she has big shoes to fill from her mentor.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better mentor to help me finish my teaching degree.
“Darlene has always been there for me every day, she is very giving, knowledgeable, generous with her time, and always goes above and beyond for the kindergarten and Cockatoo families.
“She would always be there in the morning with a cup of tea ready for me, and would check in to see how I was doing,” she said.
Ms Purdie said it was clear the impact that Ms Elder has had on the community.
“We had students, who are now in their adult years, come through with fond memories of their time at Cockatoo Kindergarten and being taught by Darlene.
“The main thing was how she made them feel, that was what they remembered.
“Some of them have even come through with their children with disabilities, and said how great Darlene was with them and making sure their needs were all met,” she said.
Cockatoo locals all know who Ms Elder is, according to Ms Purdie, who said Ms Elder always put the families of Cockatoo first.
“She was more than just a teacher to many of them, she was someone to talk to and part of the family,” she said.
Cockatoo Kindergarten Parent Committee’s Carolyn Askew said Ms Elder always had the kids’ best interests at heart.
“She would do anything for them, she dedicated her career to the kids,” she said.
With retirement looming on her doorstep, Ms Elder said she is looking forward to some new adventures with her husband in the coming years.
“We bought a caravan before Covid, and haven’t had the chance to use it, so we have some travelling around Australia on the cards,” she said.
