By Casey Neill
Three of Tecoma Preschool’s four staff members sent their own children to the friendly kinder.
They reflected on what makes the centre so special in the lead-up to its 30th birthday, in November.
Denise Wotherspoon has worked there about nine years and three of her five children attended the preschool, the first about 26 years ago.
“I would say that the rooms were very bare,” she said when asked how the centre had changed.
“There wasn’t much artwork up or things like that.
“It was still establishing itself.
“It has a great feel, I think because it’s an old house.”
Ms Wotherspoon said being close to the primary school was a real advantage and made the transition easier for kinder kids.
Colleague Jo Cleeman agreed.
“It gives it that community feel,” she said.
“It’s more intimate.”
She started working at the kinder in 2007.
“But before then as a mum I was on the committee,” she said.
“I held a few positions and I finished as the president in 2006.
“Both of my kids came here as well.”
Ms Cleeman started her involvement when her son attended 17 years ago.
“When I joined I’d just moved into the area so I didn’t really know anybody,” she said.
“The deck out there was a big social hub.
“I’ve actually made life-long friends from the kinder deck.
“Our kids came here, went to primary school and high school together, and now we still see each other.”
Noeleen Koller started working at the preschool in 2001.
“My three boys came here and while they were here I did different roles on the committee,” she said.
What’s kept her there?
“It’s the sense of community and the fact that it’s just a really, really lovely environment to be in, and working with the beautiful children who come here, and the staff as well,” she said.
“We now have a few past students that are coming back as parents.”
Kinder teacher Lauren Mair hasn’t yet had children, but has worked at the centre for 10 years.
She said the centre’s cleaner had worked there 18 years, and sent her children there.
The centre has 37 four-year-olds enrolled, and 26 three-year-olds.
It will display old photos at a community market at Tecoma Primary School on the State Election day, Saturday 24 November.
“We’ve managed to get almost every year of class photo,” Ms Mair said.
She encouraged anyone with photos or stories to share about the kinder to email tecoma.kin@kindergarten.vic.gov.au.
