MPC have been successful in obtaining two funding grants through the Gambling Community Benefit Fund scheme in 2011.

We have now finished installing Solar Systems to our 3 buildings and also all old timber doors have been replaced with new aluminium French opening doors and louvers.  This has given the centre a wonderful new “facelift” as well as providing safer entries and exits in our buildings.

MPC sincerely thank the GCBF for making these grants available to community groups such as ourselves.  We would also like to acknowledge the support of our local member, Mr Murray Watt for his support of these two projects.

At the Annual General Meeting in February an important presentation was made to two of our staff members.  Lisa Sonter and Sue Helsdon were both awarded Life Membership to acknowledge and celebrate their 25 years teaching at our centre.

Lisa worked for many years as Teacher/Director before sharing the role as Co-Director with Leanne Hunter.  Lisa recently relinquished her Co-Directorship to Louise Wood.  In 1992 Lisa and her good friend and Life Member, the late Jenny Garlick worked tirelessly to ensure a smooth changeover when the Mitchelton Community Preschooling Centre and the Mitchelton Community Kindergarten Centre (now MPC) split into 2 separate entities.  Since that time MPC has continued to thrive and adapt to meet the needs of the children and families of the community.  Due to the efforts of recent Committees working together with the staff, MPC has a well-earned professional reputation as being a progressive centre which has the capacity to adapt to changes which occur in early childhood education.

Lisa’s professional philosophy has always been grounded in her respect for children; her regard for children as competent thinkers; her value of children’s ideas and her unwavering belief that play is the most effective way for children to learn and develop.  Her most common phrase is the open-ended “I wonder”.  It sets the scene to enable children to explore and extend their ideas; it challenges adults to consider possibilities.  Lisa’s flexibility in routines allows for the most precious of all times – the magical “teachable moments”. 

Lisa has long been regarded, by her peers, as being a leader and advocate of play based curriculum and along with Leanne Hunter she established “Consultants at Play” in 2000.  Lisa is currently working towards completion of her Phd studies. 

Sue Helsdon was first employed at our centre in 1985 and remained here until 1991 when she had her son, Andrew.  She then returned to us in September 1994 and has been with us ever since.  Sue never fails to greet everyone she meets with a cheery “Good Morning” on arrival.  Mrs Helsdon is well renowned for her warm reassurances to those children who may be feeling a little fragile or out of sorts and her endless compassion and cheerfulness is inspiring to all her fellow staff workers.  Her dedication to the children, staff and parents of MPC over the past 25 years has been enormous and we take this opportunity to thank Sue sincerely for all she has done over the years for the children, parents and teachers of MPC.