1940's

HIGHLIGHTS
It is a characteristic of a “Government Town” that people are constantly on the move and World War II saw movement among the population, not only of Australians but also the beginnings of overseas representations in Canberra. Again, it is the many women and children of the officials who are of chief concern to this record (Rudduck, 1960).

1940
The Mother’s Club of Ainslie Infant’s School made a survey of the number of pre-school children in the vicinity and suggested to the Department of the Interior and the Department of Health that an existing, empty classroom might well be used for a nursery group. and that some benefits at least of the Lady Gowrie Child Care programmes should be available in the National Capital. Nothing came of this move (Rudduck, 1960).

1941


1942
Mrs. John Minter, an American trained pre-school teacher, came here with her family and, voluntarily began a small, weekly Play Group in the Griffith Mothercraft Centre. Later in the same year a new commandant came to Duntroon Military College who had with him a daughter, Miss Rosamonde Combes, who was also a trained pre-school teacher from Melbourne. She too gave her services freely to the community and, besides helping Mrs. Minter at Griffith, established a daily kindergarten at Duntroon. This voluntary demonstration again whetted the interest of parents in organized group care of young children (Rudduck, 1960).


Meantime the War effort was calling on woman power – programmes of the Lady Gowrie Child Centres were adapted to meet the needs of women in industry. Again another group in Canberra headed by Mrs. Goodes, (now better known for her work in Repertory) assisted by Mrs. Monahan and Mrs. Burgoyne and Miss Combes, approached the Mothercraft Society with a proposal for a War Time Day Nursery (Rudduck, 1960).
  • A weekly Play Group commences in the Griffith Mothercraft Centre
  • A daily kindergarten is established at Duntroon
1943 ⭐
  • The Mothercraft Society establishes a provisional committee to explore the establishment of a pre-school.
  • The Canberra Nursery Kindergarten Society is established in November 1943
1944
  • The Canberra Nursery Kindergarten opens in April 1944
  • The Canberra Nursery Kindergarten Society is appointed by the Ministry of the Interior to be the Canberra Pre-School Advisory Board to act as a representative body for the local parent committees
1945
  • Reid Preschool opens October 1945

1946
The Canberra Nursery Kindergarten Society committee decide to publish a brief story of how Preschools began in the Canberra - the publication is titled, "How Things Grow".

1947
The year of 1947 was a very lean year for the Society and alot (sic) of  time was spent in fundraising. Bridge parties were all the go (Belen-Smith, 1986).

During the 40’s and 50’s all centres gave reports to monthly Society meetings and these are contained in the minute books of the Society. These are available for any association doing a history of their preschool (Belen-Smith, 1986).

During these decades it was common practice for delegates from the Society to attend interstate conferences on preschooling in Australia (Belen-Smith, 1986).

1948
  • Duntroon Preschool opens March 1948
  • Monaro Crescent Preschool opens April 1948
1949
  • Turner Preschool opens December 1949

If you have a preschool story to share