Historical information

This plaque commemorates the official opening of an occasional child care centre and pre-school in South St, Wodonga in 1989 by the Governor of Victoria Dr. Davis McCaughey. With strong population growth in Wodonga community services had expanded rapidly throughout the 1980s. The first child minding centre had opened in 1975. BY 1987 Upper Murray Family Care provided full-day family day care and occasional care and there were also 2 private child care centres. By 1986 there were 350 full-time places and 75 part-time places, but pre-schools were unable to fill the demand for another 511 applicants. This new facility helped to ease a little of the problem. As well as the inscription included here, the name of the Mayor, all members of the Wodonga Council, City Engineer, Architect and Builder are listed on the plaque.

Significance

This item illustrates an important development in the provision of pre-school and child care services in Wodonga.

Physical description

A bronze rectangular plaque with detailed inscription, designed to be attached to the wall of a building. There is a hole in each corner for bolts to be inserted. The text is raised above the surface of the plaque. It features the symbol of the shield of the Rural City of Wodonga in the top left corner.

Publication type

fiction

Inscriptions & markings

"RURAL CITY OF WODONGA
WODONGA OCCASIONAL CHILD CARE CENTRE AND SOUTH STREET PRE-SCHOOL CENTRE
OFFICIALLY OPENED BY HIS EXCELLENCY DR. DAVIS MCCAUGHEY, A.C., GOVERNOR OF VICTORIA ON 9TH DAY OF MAY 1989