MITCHELL Shire Council will take charge of operating Seymour Preschool Centre after councillors voted in favour of a dissolution of trust last week.
The preschool has been operated by a committee of management under a trust deed in a council-owned building on Victoria Street since 1980.
During 2020, the committee found the COVID-19 pandemic added an overwhelming burden to the already-challenging responsibility of the administration and operation of the preschool, and requested that management of the preschool be transferred to council.
Council officers met with the committee to discuss matters relating to the transfer of the preschool management and the dissolution of the trust.
Cr Fiona Stevens said it was important for people to understand the dissolution of trust had nothing to do with mismanagement at the centre.
“Dissolution of trust can be concerning to the community because it can be misinterpreted that something that has belonged to the community or was managed by the community has been taken over by council,” she said.
“This has come about because running kindergartens is not as easy as it used to be, not that it was ever easy.
“This kinder has been in Seymour for a very long time and has a wonderful reputation.
“Both of my girls went to this kinder and I was lucky enough to be secretary one year and president the next, and know the work that goes into running these places
“I want to thank the community sincerely – the parents, the staff and everyone who has contributed to the running of this place. This is no reflection on the way you’ve done it, it’s just the time has come when the running of it has become a bit complex and council sees an opportunity to step up and assist for the benefit of the kinder into the future.
“The kinder is still going to stay, all this is doing is changing the management and giving us more of a role to play in the running of the kinder.”
Cr Louise Bannister thanked Seymour residents who had been part of the centre’s operation.
“Your contribution has not gone unnoticed and I look forward to watching that kindergarten be a key part of the community into the future,” she said.
