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Three cheers for the real heroes—the
hard workers. We introduce you to the winners and the grinners
at this year’s
Community Child Care and Educational Experience CeeCees Awards.
An enormous sense of pride in the sector was
apparent at this year’s CeeCees Awards—as well as some
healthy competition and plenty of camaraderie. Held at the Swissotel
in Sydney, the event attracted a big crowd this year and celebrated
Community Child Care’s 30th anniversary
with strings of pearls adorning tables (and many guests).
NSW Minister
for Education, Kevin Greene, gave a considered speech about the
importance of early childhood education and care. He also highlighted
the great responsibility bestowed upon carers of children in their
formative years and the critical role of community.
Many guests
travelled from the country to be involved in the Awards presentation—and
made the most of their stay, by partying into the night.
And the winners are…
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Joint winner!
Annette Alexander
Bunyip Preschool, Harden
Annette has overcome huge challenges,
representing members from the broader community—from children
to the older generation. She stood her ground when Bunyip was
asked to move to the long day care model, representing local
groups and getting a wonderful outcome for the town of Harden. |
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Joint winner!
Warrumbungle Shire Council
Warrumbungle Shire Council has
been a quiet achiever in supporting community-based childcare.
Its effort is an example of what a rural council, faced with
general decline in economic trends and loss of population, can
achieve for early childhood education. |
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Finalist
Natalie Cordukes
Paddington Children’s Centre |
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Winner!
Catherine Lee,
The Point Preschool
The calm and respectful atmosphere
at the Point Preschool masks the subtlest hint of the excitement
of what the day holds. Under the direction of Catherine, the
children blossom on their educational journey buoyed by the warmth
and support of friends and teachers who share their journey. |
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Finalist
Gai Lindsay
Lyrebird Preschool |
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Sara Andersson
Inner
City Child Care Centre
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Winner!
Bernadette Williamson, Goulburn Pre-School
Bernadette is a very strong advocate
for inclusion and has worked extremely hard to support families
with additional needs children. She has focused on ensuring all
children are accepted as a member of the group and worked to
educate other families who may not be as accepting. With thought,
planning and a great deal of patience she is well on her way
to making a difference. |
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Finalist
Guiliana Grippi
Paddington Children’s Centre |
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Finalist
Kerri Lee Jensen
Dee Why Children’s Centre
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Winner!
Panagiota Leonidou
Tillman Park Children’s Centre
Panagiota thinks outside the ‘developmental
norms’, when she is with children. Babies as young as eight
months old are learning things that they would never have, if ‘boxed’ according
to their age. Panagiota gives every opportunity for every child,
regardless of age, and ensures no child is left on the sideline,
all children are cared for and taught in a safe and inclusive
manner. |
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Finalist
Bradley Dixon
Koorana Child Family Centre |
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Finalist
Louise Suann
Caringbah Uniting Preschool
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Winner!
Tenneil Thulin, Lyrebird Preschool Kindergarten
As a young Aboriginal woman, Tenneil
had an obvious drive to move beyond the struggles she experienced
when completing her Year 10 Certificate. Had Tenneil known the
challenges she would face to complete her traineeship, she may
have chosen to take an easier path. As she stated at the end
of 2007: ‘Now that I have achieved that (traineeship) I
think I can do anything’. |
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Finalist
Jan Hosick
Willoughby Community Preschool |
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Finalist
Roslyn Wilkinson
Gumnut House Childcare Centrel
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Winner!
Peter Lang, Paddington Children’s Centre
Peter (pictured bottom left) is
imaginative with providing nutritious meals, using strategies
to encourage children to eat. He interacts on a daily basis with
the children, encouraging them to try new foods and discussing
the ingredients. Peter presents cooking classes for the families
and spends lots of his personal time researching new information
and shopping for ingredients that fall within budget. |
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Finalist
Shirley Drayton
Belmont Community Child Care |
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Finalist
Mei Wu
Auburn Long Day Care
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Winner!
Nicole Caldwell,
Goulburn Pre-School Association Inc.
Nicole demonstrates great willingness
to accept new challenges, learn new skills and update processes.
She has implemented the fees collection policy efficiently and
with great consideration to the individual needs of families.
In her approach, families are given support to develop achievable
payment schedules to ensure their child’s position at preschool
is maintained. |
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Finalist
Gianel Denholm
Belmont Community Child Care |
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Finalist
Anne Jeffrey
Dee Why Children’s Centre |
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Winner!
Belmont Community Child Care Centre
This dedicated management committee
believes that quality children’s services form a vital
component in the lives of children and families—demonstrated
by the provision of an accessible, equitable and affordable service.
The centre’s management committees have always been advocates
to further extend and develop our service in regards to best
practice. |
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Finalist
Coonabarabran Preschool, Inc. |
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Finalist
Grenfell Preschool
& LDC Centre
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Winner!
Peg O’Brien, Playmates Cottage
Peg has been known to rearrange
her own commitments to help the centre out when it’s short
of staff. Although continually saying she is too old to study
for qualifications, Peg took it upon herself to complete her
Certificate in Safe Food Handling so she was more flexible in
fitting in with service requirements and could cover for the
cook during time off. |
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Finalist
Janine Eyles, Grenfell Preschool Centre |
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Finalist
Janaki Karthik, Roslyn Hall Children’s Centre
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