Community & Business
19 October, 2023
Celebrating major milestone for kindy
DIMBULAH Community Kindergarten is now seeing its second generation of children come through the doors.
The kindergarten will celebrate 30 years since it began operating on 27 October and there’s no sign of it closing any time soon.
Dimbulah Community Kindergarten Committee president Shenice Prior said there were 16 children when the centre opened in 1993 and today, there’s 19.
“I attended the kindergarten myself and now my two children have also attended with my youngest still being a student at the Dimbulah Kindy this year,” Ms Prior said.
The kindergarten initially operated at the Dimbulah State School but later moved across the road to its current premises, which was known as the Dimbulah Activity Centre.
Ms Prior said the local committee in 1993 was Vivien Dyason, Mandy Weeden and Sherrie Tosoni and she believed these ladies were the driving force behind the kindergarten’s inception.
“They wrote newspaper articles; they got local families to sign and express their interest and they also wrote a letter inviting the federal member for Kennedy to a meeting held on Wednesday, August 5, at the Dimbulah Activity Centre in 1992. Almost 12 months later the new kindergarten had its official opening.”
The kindergarten was officially opened on 4 September 1993, by councillor Fred Cattarossi.
Over the years the centre has grown and evolved.
“Looking back at old photos, the premises has changed a lot. There have been a lot of improvements and upgrades.”
The improvements over the years have included a veranda, and the playground has recently been upgraded.
“We have removed all the woodchip from the playground area and recently installed a nice soft fall rubber on the ground. I find we are always finding ways to maintain and upgrade things throughout the years. These changes have often been funded through community and government grants.”
Ms Prior said the centre has seen its fair share of ups and downs over the years but was always well-supported by the community.
“I think the whole community is feeling very proud and overwhelmed with the success of having this beautiful little community kindergarten operating so strongly 30 years later. The kindergarten survives through the hard work of an annually elected committee and an amazingly dedicated staff who are both supported by our wonderful business community.”
The kindergarten not only celebrates 30 years this year but in 2024 the Dimbulah Limited hours childcare will come under the kindergarten’s service provider.
“The kindergarten and childcare will be run by the same committee. This is something the community has wished for and, although it's a huge change, we are doing our very best in getting everything switched over for another smooth year of operation in 2024 for the new committee members.”
To celebrate 30 years of Dimbulah Community Kindergarten the committee – made up of Ms Prior, Alyce Lavis (Vice President) Sammy Cummings (secretary) and Kaddiesha Leask (Treasurer) – will host an event at the kindergarten.
To be held on 27 October, there’ll be a barbecue, live music, mega raffle and photos on display at the centre in Dimbulah.
They have invited Mareeba Shire Council mayor Angela Toppin and many former teachers, educators and families along for the event – it is open for the community to attend.
