FAB FIVES CELEBRATE: Werris Creek and District Preschool will celebrate 30 years this year. Student Kaden Thistle, 5, kicking back with Pip Moore, 5, Khiarly Allan, 5 and Zoey Croucher, 5, in the back sharing a laugh. Photo: Barry Smith 011112BSE02
A SMALL-town community will celebrate a historic milestone tonight.
This year the Werris Creek and District Preschool will celebrate its 30th birthday and it has seen many changes during the past three decades.
Initially, it was set up in the town’s old army barracks before moving into its home some 10 years later following plenty of fundraising.
Educator Anne Dellar has been with the preschool since its inception and says in that time she’s seen many children grow from toddlers into young adults.
“I’ve seen plenty of kids grow up and there’s been a couple whose kids are now coming to the preschool,” Mrs Dellar said.
Her fondness for the children and the school is easily identified when she talks of its history and its achievements.
“I was at the first meeting they had to try and get a preschool in town here. It didn’t actually happen until a couple of years later,” she said.
“We started out in the old barracks in the early ’80s, and then moved to our current residence in ’91. We raised money to get the new building built for the preschool. Since then we have had an extension, which I think was completed in 2000.”
She said the preschool had always had high enrolment but this year, it’s at full capacity.
“We have grown so much. We can have 20 students a day and at the moment we either have 19 or 20 each day,” she said.
The preschool committee will hold a special ’80s-themed celebration – in honour of when it opened – tonight at the golf club.
Fundraising coordinator Jess Davis said those who attended were in for a treat.
“We wanted to do something to recognise the preschool has been in operation for 30 years, which is a big achievement for such a small community,” Mrs Davis said.
“I’ve only been on the committee for a year ... but I’ve had two kids attend the preschool. I’m a stay-at-home mum and I wanted to become more involved.”
Mrs Davis said rumours suggested some people were going all out dressing for the theme – a time when mullets, crimped hair and scrunchies were all the rage. I think there will be a few best dressed awards handed out.”
It start at 8pm and tickets are still available.