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The History of Burch Memorial Preschool
On the 9th May 1972, Keith and Elsie Burch and their three children; Trevor, Craig and Anne-Marie along with their nephew Wayne Kear, were killed in a tragic road accident one mile north of Lilydale. Their many friends in Wonga Park formed the Burch Family Remembrance Fund Committee to collect donations for a memorial for this well loved family.
At the same time, the Wonga Park and District Residents Association had established a local need for a preschool centre and it was decided to use the money raised to fund such a centre with Council and Government assistance. On Saturday 29th June 1974, Mr Clarke, the Minister, opened the preschool centre with a dedication service from the Church of Christ, Croydon. Over 200 people attended including relatives of the Burch family and local residents. The first children attended the centre on Monday 1st July 1974. The Shire President, Cr M Seymour, officially commissioned the building for the Shire of Lilydale on Saturday 24th August 1974.
At the beginning of 2005 the preschool moved to new purpose-built premises, part of the Manningham Council‘s Integrated Community Facility, on the opposite side of Old Yarra Road. The special origins of this preschool were honored by a Memorial Plaque and a new variety of camellia named KETCAM (the initials of the Burch family) by a family friend, which sported its first flower in 1977. The plaque has been relocated from the original building to the front entrance area of the new building and a lemon tree has been planted in remembrance. The original camellia remains in its special position at the old site.
At the same time, the Wonga Park and District Residents Association had established a local need for a preschool centre and it was decided to use the money raised to fund such a centre with Council and Government assistance. On Saturday 29th June 1974, Mr Clarke, the Minister, opened the preschool centre with a dedication service from the Church of Christ, Croydon. Over 200 people attended including relatives of the Burch family and local residents. The first children attended the centre on Monday 1st July 1974. The Shire President, Cr M Seymour, officially commissioned the building for the Shire of Lilydale on Saturday 24th August 1974.
At the beginning of 2005 the preschool moved to new purpose-built premises, part of the Manningham Council‘s Integrated Community Facility, on the opposite side of Old Yarra Road. The special origins of this preschool were honored by a Memorial Plaque and a new variety of camellia named KETCAM (the initials of the Burch family) by a family friend, which sported its first flower in 1977. The plaque has been relocated from the original building to the front entrance area of the new building and a lemon tree has been planted in remembrance. The original camellia remains in its special position at the old site.
