June 2, 2015
South Burnett Mayor Wayne Kratzmann dropped into the Wondai Kindergarten on Tuesday to make good on a promise he made to the kindy’s committee members.
He handed a $1000 cheque to Megan Fearsby to help pay for a new fridge for the kindergarten’s kitchen and a much-needed upgrade to the outdoor sandpit, as awe-struck youngsters and Megan’s fellow committee members looked on.
The money came from his Discretionary Fund, a small allowance all Councillors receive each year to provide off-the-cuff grants to South Burnett not-for-profits to help with their day-to-day operations.
The mayor had promised the grant when he attended the official opening of the Kindy’s refurbished premises in February but the pressure of other engagements had kept him from returning with the cheque until today.
This year the Kindy has 10 children attending every school day between 9:00am and 2:30pm but it has the capacity to cater for many more.
Pre-prep children aged 3 to 5 who are enrolled full-time at the Kindy by a parent who is a Health Care Card holder can use the kindy fee-free.
And there are other low-cost child care options available, too.
Lat year the Kindy – which started life as a judo hall in the 1960s – underwent a major refurbishment thanks to a $139,000 grant from the State Government, along with a smaller grant from the Council to upgrade the building’s plumbing and install UV filters and a water pump.
However, the Kindy funds its day-to-day operations through community contributions and fund-raising efforts, such as the barbecue members run at the monthly Wondai Markets between 7:00am and noon.
“We sell sausage sandwiches, bacon and egg burgers, steak burgers and really, really big burgers,” Megan said.
“We’re not very big on salads. But if you want a beefy way to start your day and help the Kindy at the same time, we think our burgers are the best there is!”
After the cheque presentation, the Kindy children invited the Mayor to join them for little lunch and a friendly chat.
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The person who defrauded the Kindy should have at least coughed up for the fridge and sandpit