Allora P-10 State School celebrates half century of early learning

Current and former staff of Allora P-10 State School came together with students and community members in mid September to celebrate 50 years of early childhood education which began with the vision of Mrs Joyce Gibson, back in 1974.

At the time Mrs Gibson had been a long serving teacher in charge at the school, and wanted to create an opportunity for early learners, which led her to establish the preschool, one of the first to open in Queensland, the Allora Advertiser reported. 

In 1974, her ideas were somewhat revolutionary, with preschool education a relatively new concept not just for the Allora community, but for the state as a whole. 

The first class commenced 9 September 1974, and since then the preschool has gone from strength to strength. Some of the original preschool cohort were present on the day to celebrate the occasion, including Frank Strachotta, Carol Halton (nee Fredericks), Paul and Tanya Gordon (nee Sparksman) and Garry Shooter. 

Many of the 1974 class are grandparents and relatives of current students and staff, which lent a family affair to the occasion. 

When the preschool first opened,  Linda Sharman-Bowman shared in her welcoming speech, it was separated from the rest of the school by a white picket fence and operated independently as a stand-alone unit.

It was mostly play based education because play was recognised and valued as a means by which young children learn about themselves and the world. It was never intended to be preparation for school. 

Fast forward to today, and the fences have been removed, with the notion of preschool evolving into Prep (the first formal year of school).

Ms Sharman-Bowman acknowledged the many teachers and teacher aides who have contributed to children’s success over the years, expressing her confidence that this will continue well into the future. 

Read the original coverage of this story here.