The Shine Bright Echuca South Kindergarten educators. Photo: Supplied
The Shine Bright Echuca South kindergarten celebrated 60 years of service on Thursday, October 24.
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Around 120 people gathered at the kinder to celebrate the milestone, including students, parents, former and current educators and community members.
Aunty Neva Atkinson opened the event with a smoking ceremony and spoke to guests about a mural she had created for the school.
Guests participated in a smoking ceremony performed by Aunty Neva Atkinson. Photo: Supplied
The current nominated supervisor, Lee Power, then shared a speech before Deb Brownfield, an educator at Echuca South for over 30 years, cut the birthday cake.
Deb Brownfield, an educator at the kinder for 30 years, cut the birthday cake. Photo: Supplied
Guests had the option to explore the classrooms and the yard while children enjoyed the jumping castle and petting zoo.
Children enjoyed the petting zoo on the day. Photo: Supplied
Educator Jessica Juffs said it was a proud moment for the kinder and it was great to share the celebrations with the wider community.
“We are very proud of our incredible kinder and it was a privilege to celebrate 60 years of education and fun for all the the children, families and educators who have been a part our kindergarten over the years,” she said.
“Community is a big part of our kindergarten philosophy so it was great to be able to open up our kinder to the local community for the night.”
Former students were able to reminisce about their own time at the kinder. Photo: Supplied
The kinder was founded in 1964 and was largely made possible through anonymous donations that were later traced to a Mathoura farmer named Owen Dann.
When it first opened there were just 30 students taught by one educator by the name of Fran Galvin, and families paid 20 cents for each session their children attended.
Today, there are over 140 children enrolled in the kinder, including three- and four-year-olds, who all have access to 15 hours of free kinder a week.
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