Kooloora Preschool at Toukley will be giving its much-loved bush tucker garden a spruce up, after being named the latest winner in the #GreaterCentralCoast Community Funding Program.
This latest round of funding is part of Greater Bank’s $150,000 investment into community organisations on the Central Coast since 2020.
Kooloora operates within Toukley Primary School and is one of 11 preschools in NSW designated by the Department of Education to specifically educate Aboriginal children.
Preschool Deputy Principal Sharon Buck said the $2,000 boost in funding would be invested in the preschool’s native bush tucker garden.
“Part of our program includes a focus on connection to land and the local environment which we practice through our own bush tucker garden,” she said.
“The children absolutely love tending to our garden, which is stocked with lots of lemon myrtle, lily pillies and native fruits and veggies.
“We are just so grateful for the support of Greater Bank, and we are excited to be able to put our funding towards expanding the species in our garden and build on the cooking experiences we currently offer to the children.”
Kooloora prioritises enrolment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, but is open to all local families, providing affordable and accessible services that encourage family, child and community participation.
Buck said the school prided itself on building awareness and understanding of Aboriginal culture from a young age.
“At Kooloora, we want children to be proud of their culture and to see themselves represented,” she said.
“Equally, we are passionate about ensuring non-indigenous children have a rich understanding of Aboriginal practices from an early age.
“Currently we have 40 places with 60 per cent Aboriginal or Torres Islander families attending our service, and we strive to ensure our Gudjagang children have a place to play and learn in a culturally safe and enriched environment, while we create positive learning outcomes for our students.
“Our goal is to promote self-value, self-worth and a sense of belonging and in turn make our Gudjagang and our Central Coast community greater.”
Greater Bank Regional Manager Greg Creagan said it was heartwarming to see the community supporting the local preschool.
“We hope these funds help with the growth of the bush tucker garden, and bring lots of smiles to little faces as they learn about and interact with some of our country’s beautiful native species,” he said.
“At Greater Bank we believe in the power of education and the importance of providing young children with the best possible start, so we are thrilled to support Kooloora Preschool which has been an integral part of the Toukley community for nearly 30 years.
“The best thing about our Community Funding Program is that the public gets to have their say over where the funds go each month by voting via our website.
“We want the Central Coast community to see our funds invested into causes that are important to them.”
Brisbane Water Netball Club, Woodport Public School P&C Association, and Cancer Council NSW – Central Coast are the entrants for the July round of the #GreaterCentralCoast Community Funding Program, where there’s another $3,000 up for grabs.
Voting is open online until 5pm Wednesday, July 31 July at https://www.greater.com.au/greatercentralcoast which is also where community groups can register their interest in being part of the program.