History
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 pre-school 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 pre-school 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 pre-school 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 pre-school 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 pre-school 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 pre-school 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 pre-school 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 pre-school 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.
Committee of Management
Management of the pre-school rests with the Committee of Management elected from the parents of the pre-school. The affairs of the pre-school are attended to by the Committee and staff in accordance with the rules and regulations as laid down under the Children’s Services Regulations 1998. The primary role of the Committee of Management is to ensure that the services provided are maintained in accordance with the regulations and that the centre operates on a balanced budget.
Clear policies and procedures have been developed to ensure everyone using the pre-school understands the operation of the centre. Volunteering to be a committee member is a very positive and constructive way in which you can contribute to your child’s experience at pre-school.
Clear policies and procedures have been developed to ensure everyone using the pre-school understands the operation of the centre. Volunteering to be a committee member is a very positive and constructive way in which you can contribute to your child’s experience at pre-school.
