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House of Assembly - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2016-09-27 Daily Xml
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Oaklands Estate Kindergarten

Ms DIGANCE (Elder) (15:40): On Sunday, I had the absolute pleasure of attending the Oaklands Estate Kindergarten art show. On that beautiful sunny day, I arrived at the kindy to the sounds of music playing, children laughing and playing, and the warm hum of adult conversation infiltrated by the tempting aroma of a freshly cooked sausage sizzle. This amazing community-focused kindy is located in the leafy residential area fondly known as Oaklands Estate, otherwise known as Oaklands Park. Oaklands Estate encompasses a triangular area, with the Sturt River, Oaklands Road-Chambers Street and Minchinbury Terrace forming the boundaries. It was originally known as Oaklands Estate and around 1966 was formally included in the suburb of Marion. Today, it is still generally known as Oaklands Estate.

Surrounded by about 300 houses, there are many families within easy walking distance of the kindergarten. It is a beautiful stroll from these nearby houses to the kindy through the leafy streets of the area. Just down the road is the newly upgraded and easily accessible Marion Train Station and also nearby is the wonderful and inviting community space of the Oaklands Wetland, a space of waterbirds and wildlife and a well-used skate and bike park. The Oaklands Wetland is a space for all ages, another place for community to gather and share.

There is a long history of community involvement at the Oaklands Estate Kindergarten, beginning with the Oaklands Estate Residents Association, which, with vision and considerable lobbying, was able to acquire the land for the kindergarten, and so began the raising of funds for the buildings. The kindergarten was incorporated in 1964. This history of strong involvement of the community continues today, with the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure assisting the kindergarten in 2013 and 2014 with outdoor redevelopments, and there is now another redevelopment for the outdoor play area underway. The tradition of a culture of strong family involvement has continued, with all families engaged and participating in kindergarten and fundraising events throughout the year.

A number of elements were outstanding on this day that made for a perfect community event. First, it was and always is clearly evident that the kindergarten staff have at the heart and centre of all they do the welfare of the children, promoting and encouraging the children's love of learning. At the art show, every child had on display at least five pieces of artwork, being a selection from various topics of self-portrait, still life using photography, clay modelling, floral displays, beadings and wool and nature display, just to name a few. The combined excitement of the children and parents sharing the art pieces was inspiring, as stories were told by the children of what they had done and why they enjoyed the activity.

The energetic governing council and parents came together to provide a raffle, a silent auction, activities, food and soft drink, with music by a number of bands, including the Marion City Band and Warriparinga Brass. The activity attracted a cross-section of ages, being children, parents, grandparents and other family members and friends. The production of a catalogue was fantastic and added a dimension of depth to the work, as each child was both encouraged to share the displayed work of colourful imagination through various mediums and invited to share their thoughts in a booklet on their reflections of art. I thought I would share some quotes from this booklet on the perspectives on behalf of the four to five year olds.

Some of the comments in the booklet included, 'I can draw hats. I don't know if I can make them.' Another said, 'Art is something that you do, people who live, who go somewhere a place like a building that has all the different art and pieces of all things that you paint.' A further comment was, 'Art is something amazing like sculpture, painting and drawing.'

Other comments included, 'Art is making, painting, printing, drawing. I like art it makes me feel happy to look at when its finished. It is fun to do. I have art at my house its in the big room.' 'Art is called painting and drawing and photos. Its stuff that is weally good. Art is important because it is different to other peoples art, sometimes you draw it, sometimes you paint it and sometimes you photograph it.' 'Some art is crazy.'

Congratulations, Oaklands Estate Kindergarten. Praise to all of you for a wonderful community day of engagement and fun and, most of all, when the children were central to the focus and learning was made fun and all-encompassing. Well done.

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