March 13, 2015
What a difference a year can make! This time last year a new Management Committee was formed and in just 12 months they’ve worked tirelessly to ensure the Kumbia community’s beloved kindergarten’s doors stay open.
At Monday night’s AGM, the financial statements revealed the kindergarten made its first profit in three years, income from fundraising was three times higher than the previous year, and there was an increase in enrolments of 300 per cent by the end of 2014.
“We were thrilled to receive the report and could never have achieved this result without the support of so many people and businesses across the Kumbia District and Kingaroy,” Management Committee president Michele Doran said.
“Introducing the ‘country casual’ concept whereby a child does not have to attend full-time is unique to our kindergarten and appeals to parents who want to ease their three-year-old into the social learning environment.”
Throughout the year the kindergarten was successful with various grant and sponsorship requests, receiving help from the South Burnett Regional Council, Kingaroy Lions, Stanwell Corporation and, just recently, the hotly contested Gambling Community Benefits Fund.
“I think our local organisations and clubs see how hard we work and how enthusiastic we are about our community kindy,” vice-president Jules Entwistle said.
“They are reassured knowing that every cent is put back through the kindergarten and we can never thank them enough for how much they have helped us in what was an incredibly challenging but satisfying year.”
2015 is already off to a positive start with 10 children enrolled and more on the way.
There is also an extra $18,000 in QKFS funding.
“We are implementing music and sports programs this year to ensure our rural kids get the same opportunity as city kids do to try new experiences,” newly appointed director Chantelle Whiteman said.
“If we have helped just one child discover a passion for the arts or a love of sports because we have introduced that to them at Kindergarten then we have achieved something great.”
C&K Kumbia Kindergarten has limited spaces available. Call (07) 4164-4200 for more information.
The kindy has also just been notified of its successful application to receive funding for any children with special needs or learning disabilities.
