by Janine Hill

The Range Community Kindergarten at Mapleton is having a growth spurt thanks to some hardworking parents, a supportive community, and some good fortune.State government funding had been approved for the kindy to expand from 20 places to 27 places.

The president of the kindy committee, Brooklyn Hollis, said the extra places were much needed to allow more young children the opportunity to learn and gain social skills before they start school.

“There’s not enough places for our kids on the Range which means they either have to go off the Range to go to kindy or not go at all,” she said.

Brooklyn said it was beneficial for more local kids to begin their education journey together as it helped generate more activity on the Range, established community connection and developed friendly cohorts for later primary schooling.

Getting the go-ahead for extra places was not easy and at one stage, it appeared the kindy would have to install a costly additional toilet to tick all the boxes.

Brooklyn said that after consulting a building certifier and Education Queensland, it was determined that that building’s original certification document from 1987 would suffice but nobody knew where it was.

“The original certifier didn’t have it. Education Queensland didn’t have it,” she said.

Brooklyn and treasurer Jeshana Erb searched the building from top to bottom but came up with nothing, but then luck went their way.

“Jeshana said a prayer, had a dream and came in the next morning and went through a cupboard and there it was,” Brooklyn said.

Brooklyn said that while some of the new places were taken, there were still some vacancies and the plan was to expand to 30 places next year.

The kindy has launched into fundraising to accommodate the expansion and carry out improvements and Brooklyn said $30,000 in sponsorship, donations and grants had been rustled up. “We’re really starting to connect with our community.”

Businesses had also kindly donated prizes for a raffle which was well supported.

Drawn on Thursday 3 August, raised about $4,500.

• Prizes included a stay at The Narrows, two mountain bikes, a Pranafest package, new Dreaming artwork, a Dubbaray sound immersion, New Earth café voucher, Early Bird massage therapy, a Montville Clock Shop clock, a Mapleton Public House voucher, a Ginger Factory family package, a nutritionist package, a Muffin Whole voucher, a business sustainability consultation and a business strategy consultation.

• Prize packages were won by J. Coyle (the Range family package), J. Clegg (the Range experience package), M. Owens (the Range creatives package) and A. McMurray (the Range corporate package).