To say it has been a busy year at the Flowerdale Kinder would be an understatement!Early 2009 had seen the building of a new bike path and new shade structure above thesand pit, plans and preparations for a new garden design. All of this was achieved over thesummer break in January, just prior to the February 7

when bushfires destroyed the lot!Not to mention many 3 and 4 year old children from Flowerdale started the year veryexcited to be either returning to kinder or attending for the first time on the 3

of February just days before the kinder burnt down.Determined not to fall into dismay and more importantly to keep the smiles on thechildren’s faces; kinder staff, Raylene Eason and Chrissie Grant took on a “nothing-can-stand-in-our-way” approach and set up a play space for all aged children in a large armytent on the oval at Spring Valley Recreation Reserve. This was also a chance for all themums and dads to gather and talk through their experiences; a very important process.It was not long before the group migrated from the tent to the club rooms at the RecreationReserve. Along the way we had daily visits from the “Save the Children” play bus andother special visitors such as singer Barry Williams who had children smiling and singingas they reunited with their play mates.Towards the end of term one there was yet another move. We were fortunate enough tobe offered a space at the Flowerdale Primary School library. With the welfare of ourvulnerable children and parents in mind we soldiered on through the term in the very cozylibrary with a ‘play-focused’ group run by Raylene and Chrissie. Parents were still requiredto stay for the duration of the sessions so strong friendships were forged and caffeinelevels (of the parents) increased dramatically. The children who attended were just happyto have some stability in their days which had to date been turned upside down.With help from the Flowerdale Primary School and the Department of Early Childhood andEducation a portable kinder was delivered to the primary school grounds. It was finallyready for occupancy at the start of term two when loud squeals of excitement were heardthroughout the school as the children ran in for the first time to explored their new kinderspace.