Ararat Rural City Council Mayor, Cr Bob Sanders, joined Member for Ripon, Martha Haylett MP to officially open the newly refurbished Jack and Jill Kindergarten in Ararat last week.
Cr Sanders and Ms Haylett toured the refurbished facility, which included an upgraded kitchen and children's bathroom, a new sensory room, updated foyer, and staff areas with new vinyl flooring, repainting, and upgraded energy‑efficient LED lighting throughout.
The project also included an upgraded accessible toilet, new doors and hardware to improve safety and privacy, improved insulation for better temperature control, and improved access to the outside play area.
Built in 1985, the Jack and Jill Kindergarten was identified by Council for an upgrade to ensure the continued delivery of high-quality early childhood education. The modernised facility will also accommodate rising enrolments driven by the Victorian Government's Best Start, Best Life reforms.
Council contributed $76,000 to the project, which was also supported by a $745,000 through the Victorian Government's Building Blocks Grant.
"It's wonderful to see the transformation of this space," Mayor Bob Sanders said. "With some of my own children and grandchildren having gone through this kinder, I know firsthand the quality of education it provides. It's fantastic that these upgrades will keep that going for years to come."
