Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke visited Carinya Early Childhood Centre today to present funding which will see four flagpoles standing tall to help spread the lesson of understanding.
Ms Cooke presented a cheque for $6336 to pay for the flagpoles, which will carry the Australian National flag, Australian Aboriginal flag, Torres Strait Islander flag and the logo of the centre.
“These flags form part of the curriculum which the children study here and it’s a privilege for me to be able to help secure the flagpoles to proudly fly them,” Ms Cooke said.
“The preschool children will be responsible for raising the flags and this duty will enable them to develop personally as well as academically.
“They will also have daily and visible reminders that we are all equal and all part of the same wonderful community.
“I’d like to thank Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell for helping secure this important funding which will provide years of learning opportunities for the children who come here.”
Susan Callaghan, director of Carinya Early Childhood Centre, explained the role the flagpoles will play in the children’s development.
“The flagpoles and flags will create a sense of belonging and promote inclusion, and setting the children up for a lifelong acceptance of the diversity of Australian culture,” Ms Callaghan said.
“The first time I thought about it was on an excursion where some of the children couldn’t identify a flag which, although we studied flags on the curriculum, showed me that we needed them as part of our daily routine.”
