SDN Mosman celebrates 80 years of education and care

Early childhood provider SDN Mosman has celebrated 80 years of educating and caring for children in the Mosman community with a special event bringing together children, families, staff and members of the SDN Mosman community to celebrate the centre’s rich history on Friday 17 May. 

Special guests included Felicity Wilson MP, member for North Shore in the Parliament of NSW and her young son, Henry, as well as the Deputy Mayor of Mosman Council, Councillor Pip Friedrich.

Children marked the occasion by singing ‘We are Australian’ in Yawuru – a First Nations language – and presenting guests with a painting of an 80th birthday cake.

SDN Mosman officially opened on 19 May 1944 when many people in the local community, including the Mosman Municipal Council helped to get the centre established, with the Council contributing 100 pounds (a large sum at the time) towards buying the property.

The ladies of Mosman sewed blankets and bibs to equip the service, while others hosted fetes and bridge parties towards seeing the service get up and running, against the economic and social uncertainties of living in wartime, SDN CEO Kay Turner explained. 

Local MP Felicity Wilson acknowledged SDN’s vision and commitment to improving children’s learning and enhancing the life chances for all children, also commenting that as a working parent she “simply could not be a Parliamentarian and serve her community without the support of early learning.”

“Congratulations to SDN for everything you do for children every day and what you have done for generations,” Ms Wilson said. 

“One thing that hasn’t changed in 80 years is the needs of children and the needs of parents in our community. I appreciate and value the role of early learning in my children’s lives. I see with my own children how important those early years are and how that learning sets them up for life.” Ms Wilson said.

The event concluded with refreshments, cake, conversation and plenty of community spirit. You can read more about SDN Mosman history here.

Image shows  (from L-R): SDN Mosman Centre Director Sangeeta Konsam, MP Felicity Wilson and son Henry, SDN CEO Kay Turner and Mosman Deputy Mayor, Pip Friedrich.