Kindy belongs to community

THE once sleepy little hamlet of Highfields has changed remarkably over the past 30 years, but one things remains the same: the little kindy in Bloodwood Street.

This year C&K Highfields Kindergarten celebrates 30 years of serving the community and centre director Judy Cuskelly said it was both an exciting time for the children and an interesting opportunity for staff and families to learn more about its history.

And while official proceedings were considerably dampened by the global COVID-19 outbreak, there was still plenty of fun to be had making decorations and celebrating.

Mrs Cuskelly said despite the population of Highfields booming in recent years, the centre still retained a small community feel, with staff members sticking around for decades and families for generations.

It’s not surprising, given it was always a community-driven project.

The centre’s story began in 1987 when it was a humble little kindergarten run out of the Highfields Baptist Church. In 1988 the committee agreed it was time to find land, create a purposebuilt facility to house the kindergarten and apply for affiliation with the Creche and Kindergarten Association of Queensland.

Crows Nest Shire Council was convinced to donate a block of land for the project, and of the blocks available, the committee chose 1 Bloodwood St, just off the now-burgeoning Plaza

Circle.

Families doorknocked every residence across Highfields and surrounds as part of a fundraising block drive, selling blocks for $5 that were used to build the centre.

Corporate sponsorship was sought and $20,000 worth of landscaping donated to the cause, and after a massive community effort, the beautiful new kindy was opened on March 7, 1990.

In October the centre received accreditation with C&K Kindergartens, an affiliation that continues to this day. Mrs Cuskelly said the sense of community ownership was something staff fostered.

“We had an in-house celebration before COVID restrictions and put out photo albums, and some of the mums were pointing and saying ‘there I am!’, she said.

“I think people have that sense of ownership and we tell everyone this place belongs to our community.”

Pictures: Contributed FUN DAY: Judy Cuskelly gives students (from left) Beau Dagg, Ethan Wright and Grayson Butler a push on the swing.

C&K Kindy Highfields staff member Katherine Masters cuts a cake in honour of the centre's 30th birthday.

C&K Kindergarten Highfields centre manager Judy Cuskelly with (from left) Eddie Lipp, Ryan Rutland and Freddie Day.