Director Liz Francis, far right, with staff, board members and politicians at the opening of the new building at the Canowindra Preschool on Friday.
After years of grant writing, planning and work, the Canowindra Preschool Kindergarten officially opened their new building to parents, politicians, board members, community members and students last Friday.
With the Director of Canowindra Pre-school, Liz Francis, at the helm, the pre-school received $246,090 in funding from the NSW Government’s $8 Million Capital Works Program in 2016.
The program’s grants were designed to fund the construction of new preschools or the expansion of existing early childhood services, in order to help create 500 additional places for children aged four or five in areas of high need around the state. This money was used to create a slick administrative building which house offices and additional space for student needs along with expanding the floor space of the existing building.
Liz was also able to secure several other small grants to create an interactive garden space with timber stage, play equipment, gardens and more to facilitate outdoor play and learning for preschool students.
“Katie Henry, our treasurer and Mandy Townsend, our president at the time, worked with me to apply for the grant,” said Liz. “We made everything wheelchair and walker accessible. It is really beautiful, and we are proud of that.”
Further substantial funds came directly from the Canowindra community through the preschool’s fundraising efforts, hosting two balls, the Gatsby Gala and the Diamond Jubilee.
“We are very lucky,” said Liz of the community support. “We are really supported in Canowindra. Everyone values the pre-school.”
Liz went on to thank the board members and the countless staff and community members who all contributed to the new facilities at the preschool.
Andrew Gee MP praised the new facilities and it’s affect on the community saying, “It is great to see so many young families moving to Canowindra, making use of the magnificent preschool which is anchoring a surge in local economic growth.”