Director to retire after 33 years in the same ECEC position

At a time when the early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector is struggling to manage high levels of staff turnover, it is rare to hear of someone being employed by the same service for ten years or more – let alone 30. 

 

This is, however, the case for the Director of Parkes Early Childhood Centre (PECC), Lindy Farrant, who is retiring after 33 years in the same role. Ms Farrant has held the position of Director since the centre first opened its doors in 1994. 

 

Prior to working at PECC, Ms Farrant moved from Sydney to Parkes in 1978 to work as an early childhood teacher at the Parkes Preschool Kindergarten, local news source The Parkes Champion-Post said. 

 

Ms Farrant told the paper of her passion for the early years, considering herself “privileged to have been surrounded by teachers, educators, management, families, community members and organisations who have all focused on the best interests of the early education and care of the children of Parkes.”

 

While she initially planned on staying in Parkes, in rural New South Wales, for only a few years before returning home to Sydney, Ms Parkes said the strong sense of community in the town made it hard to leave again. 

 

Aside from her work as an ECT, Ms Farrant was part of a steering committee involved in a restructuring process which allowed the preschool to offer long day and casual places, expanding its offering to further support the community. 

 

Speaking on some of the highlights from her time in the role, Ms Farrant said “I was honoured to be a part of a community-based organisation where at one time, four generations of one family were connected to PECC.”

 

She also noted the changing ECEC landscape, recalling that when she commenced in her ECT role, there was no formal curriculum for early learning, and the importance of brain development in young children was poorly understood. 

 

Ms Farrant said that while she will “miss the children, families, work colleagues and PECC community” she was looking forward to a retirement spent in the company of family and friends, and plans to travel, exercise, and explore hobbies such as pottery. 

 

A farewell event will be held in acknowledgement of her service, at the Parkes Golf Club on Saturday 7 March from 2pm until 5pm. 

 

To read the original coverage of this story, please see here.