August 2003

Preschool marks 50th anniversary

Whitehorse Mayor Jessie McCallum unveiled a tile wall created by current students and teachers to mark the 50th anniversary of Parkside Preschool in Box Hill.

The wall, representing the modern kindergarten community, contrasted with the front wall murals for which Parkside Preschool has become known.

Ms McCallum also buried a time capsule to be opened in 50 years time.

A heritage wall offered visitors—including past students and teachers—a sense of history at Parkside.

The 50th anniversary celebrations featured music, dancing, face painting and target handballing.

Children took part in various craft activities inside the kindergarten, while the sausage sizzle, coffee/tea and cake stall were popular.

The preschool was established in 1953 by a group of parents unable to enrol children even in infancy at the existing local kindergarten.

Box Hill City Council—now the City of Whitehorse—offered the land for the kindergarten, built after rounds of fundraising and many working and sewing bees. It was officially opened by Mayor Padgham on February 6, 1954.