1950
Sites for a preschool were inspected by the Society and the RAF requested a trained teacher for a centre that they would provide.
It was minuted that O'Connor would have its first 100 pounds in hand by the end of the year (Belen-Smith, 1986).
The preschool movement was well underway, with the following preschools opening in 1950:
1951
April.
Just nine months after the first public meeting stimulated interest in the project, the Nursery Kindergarten was opened and first groups of children admitted (Rudduck, 1960).
Much voluntary help was needed once the School was in action: on the buses (the Nursery School Special, twice a day): in the kitchen, preparing the mid-morning orange drink, the mid-day dinner, and the afternoon milk and rusk: in the garden, supplying fresh vegetables for eighty dinners a day; and in the library, choosing and obtaining books for teachers, parents and children. The Society and the growing group of parents readily gave the necessary assistance.
As the Nursery Kindergarten became established, a parents’ and Friends Association was formed to support the day-to-day operation.
The following Pre-School Centres were opened across 1951
February.
From the minutes of February ‘Four married members of staff, 3 teachers and 1 assistant were replaced by single girls when suitable applicants were available’ and we sometimes wonder why anti-discrimination laws were introduced (Belen-Smith, 1986).
April.
The committee was formed for O’Connor North centre and 400 pounds was subsequently collected, they used the method of collecting sixpence a week from all interested persons (Belen-Smith, 1986).
References:
Belen-Smith, P. (1986). A brief history of the Society. Canberra Preschool Archives. Available at Woden Heritage Library. Canberra.
1955
The “Canberra Nursery Kindergarten Society” changed their name to the “Canberra Preschool Society”. The stated reason:
"In recent years the nature of the Society’s work has altered, and the scope has been enlarged. With the closing of the Nursery School, there is now no Nursery Kindergarten in Canberra, and the pre-school play centres are increasing yearly. Sixteen facilities are now registered with the Department of the Interior. In addition to its Executives and fifteen Council Members, play-centre committees representatives were accorded the (copy difficult to read) equal voting power with the Council Executive. For these reasons it was felt that a name was required which express more accurately the work and nature of the organisation. The question was referred to the Committee, as at a general meeting of the Society on July 12th, the name Canberra Pre-School Society was unanimously approved. At this same meeting, a few minor changes to the Constitution were adopted.”
The following preschools were opened in 1955:
1956
1957
1959
There were four committees working before their centre opened and this was a record at this time but at various stages in the following years this was not unusual. There were 10 centres operating at this time. (Belen-Smith, 1986).
The annual subscription was increased to 2 shillings and sixpence (Belen-Smith, 1986).
A committee is formed for establishing O'Connor North Preschool.
The following Preschools were opened during 1959: