Beginnings of … SDN Preschool

‘In October we took on the management of Batemans Bay Preschool the local children in May 1975 at 1 and have been supporting staff and families there ’. Herarde Street. The official opening ceremony was on 26 July 1975, SDN Children’s Services Annual Report 2002 performed by NSW Independent member for the South Coast, Mr John Hatton MLA, and attended by a large SDN Children’s Services History of Batemans Bay gathering of guests. In charge of the 55 The traditional owners of the area are begins in 1905 children enrolled by that first week was the Walbunja People, part of the In 1905 a determined group of women trained preschool teacher, Susan traditional lands of the Nation.1 from Sydney’s upper classes who Perry. understood ‘the difficulties that beset The name Batemans Bay was given to the paths of working mothers’ founded the area by Captain in 1770. the Sydney Day Nursery Association Gold was discovered in the 1850s and at (now SDN Children’s Services). The the same time timber, oyster farming Association aimed to improve the and fishing industries were established welfare of children whose mothers were in the area. facing poverty and had to work to By the 1940s, Batemans Bay had a provide for their family. Infant mortality picture theatre, general stores and a was high and the Kindergarten Union hospital. The Batemans Bay bridge was was only able to provide day care opened in 1956, which greatly services for a few hours a day. With no improved accessibility across the Clyde other option, these young children were River. often left to fend for themselves among The Batemans Bay Pre- the streets of working class Sydney. school Kindergarten In response, the Association opened its first Day Nursery in a terrace house in opens in 1975 Dowling Street, Woolloomooloo in In 1969, a resident of Batemans Bay, Mrs Batemans Bay Pre-school Kindergarten 1905, the first long day care centre in Margaret Backhouse, felt there was a opening family fun day, 1975, at 1 Herarde NSW. For just three pence a day, babies necessity for a local preschool. Mrs Street. Southern Star, 1975 and children were bathed, fed, clothed Backhouse contacted the local Chamber and cared for from 7.00am to 6.30pm. of Commerce who surveyed the The preschool was managed entirely Due to overwhelming demand, the community through circulars and by the community-run Committee and Association opened Day Nurseries in confirmed there was a need. by the families who attended. It was the other locations in the inner city soon Mrs Backhouse began a fundraising first and still the only community-based after. These were all areas of need in effort to establish the preschool, and at a not-for-profit preschool in Batemans Sydney with large working populations. public meeting the Batemans Bay Pre- Bay. school Committee was elected. Shortly afterwards, a mothers’ club was also Batemans Bay formed. Preschool joins the SDN Five long years of hard work followed, family in 1999! during which time a temporary preschool was established. The lobbying In April 1999, Batemans Bay Preschool continued and the Committee was contacted SDN Children’s Services with delighted to receive a donation from the a request to manage it as an SDN Batemans Bay Soldiers’ Club, and then a service. $32,000 Federal Government building Batemans Bay Preschool officially Batemans Bay Pre-school Kindergarten in its program grant. became part of the SDN family on 11 first year of opening, 1975, at 1 Herarde The new Batemans Bay Pre-school October 1999, when SDN took over Street. Southern Star, 23 May 1975 Kindergarten finally opened its doors to management, supporting the © SDN Children’s Services, July 2015, www.sdn.org.au SDN Batemans Bay Preschool, 1a Melaleuca Crescent, Batemans Bay In August, a public meeting was held to decide on the needs of a multi- purpose children and family centre. Lobbying by the steering committee, including a community letter-writing campaign, eventually led to success - nearly $500,000 in State and Federal government grants, as well as Batemans Bay Preschool raising $100,000 and donations from businesses, community Batemans Bay Preschool in its original location groups and individuals. at 1 Herarde Street, 2001. SDN Archive. SDN’s CEO Ginie Udy (far left), dignitaries and continuing staff and families. This was preschool staff members at SDN Batemans Bay ‘The committee thanks all the the fourth regional centre SDN had Preschool’s official opening of the new individuals and community managed, alongside centres in building, 2005. SDN Archive. groups who wrote letters of Katoomba (1943—1963), Bathurst support for the project that (opened 1951) and Goulburn (opened SDN Batemans Bay Preschool showed there is great support 1954). relocated to 1a Melaleuca Crescent at from the Batemans Bay the beginning of term 3, 2005. Staff community for a centre which SDN Batemans Bay members and families all worked hard Preschool moves will provide a large number of to ensure the move went smoothly. child and family related services’ location in 2005 The official opening event for the new Doreen Levensmith, Steering building was 9 September 2005, by In 2000, the Council Committee chair, Bay Post, 6 March Eden Monaro MP Gary Nairn. The accepted a residential developer offer to 2002 community was invited to look inside, purchase the location in Herarde Street, and a family fun day offered face which meant that the Batemans Bay Pre- By 2002 the Eurobodalla Shire Council painting, play dough and lots of fun school would have to move. had confirmed a site on Melaleuca activities for children. The Council promised $75,000 Crescent. The steering committee was In 2007, SDN was successful in towards a new building. This presented then able to oversee the design and becoming lead agency delivering the the opportunity to create a new construction of the new modern and Brighter Futures program in Batemans multipurpose family centre with other light-filled centre. Bay and Moruya, continuing our community organisations, but more The building was designed to be community focus in the area. money was needed to construct the multipurpose, enabling it to be shared building. SDN Batemans Bay with other community services, such as The community once again sprang playgroups, a toy library, family support Preschool today into action to ensure the preschool services and girl guides. Since its beginnings, SDN Batemans Bay could continue operating. Preschool has undergone many The Batemans Bay Preschool changes, reflecting a strong connection assembled the Batemans Bay Children with our families within a vibrant and and Family Centre Project steering diverse community. committee on 9 April 2001, comprising The changes in the sector to increase representatives from various local the quality of early childhood education children’s community groups, including and care have confirmed our own the Batemans Bay Preschool staff and approach to professional skilled staff parent committee. The steering and services since our beginnings. committee was chaired by longtime What hasn’t changed is our vision and Batemans Bay Preschool staff member commitment to addressing social Doreen Levensmith (now SDN Batemans The new SDN Batemans Bay Preschool, 2013, inequalities, improving children’s Bay Preschool’s Centre Director). at 1a Melaleuca Crescent. Photo Anna Zhu. quality of life and enhancing the life

chances for all children.

About this history and the SDN Archive This history was put together from documents held in the SDN Archive and the Eurobodalla Shire Council website. The SDN Archive, established in 2002, is a unique resource in ’s early childhood education sector. You can also see the SDN Archive on HistoryPin: www.historypin.com/en/person/32804 SDN Children’s Services runs 25 children’s education and care centres throughout NSW and the ACT, as well as providing a range of children and family support programs. SDN’s centenary celebration ‘sister-centre’ 1 Spelling sourced from the Batemans Bay Local Aboriginal Land Council, July 2015 gift from SDN Batemans Bay Preschool to SDN Erskineville, 2005. SDN Archive