HISTORY| Alan &Anne Philips| 1980-Today

Alan describes his wife with such love and affection. He smiled and told us, “She was a mother, partner, cook, teacher, musician and so many other things all at the same time. She was a well trained women who understood how to teach and bring up children in a loving environment.”

Alan and Anne began their family in their beautiful home 34 years ago. Their house is warm, cosy and surrounded by Australian natives. From the whistles of the birds to the ever-growing community, Riverton Willetton was ‘the place to be’ and so the Philip family grew.

Alan and Anne wished for a kindergarten for their young children; being well qualified as a teacher Alan encouraged his wife to begin her own ‘kindy’! There were so many young children in the budding area yet no place for them to go during the day. Alan told his wife, “Start your own!” and so they did.

The block behind them was on the market and placing a $50 deposit down in the summer of 1981 Alan and Anne moved to the house behind and converted their old home into a kindergarten.

They put an ad in the paper and within days they had a waiting list made up of 200 families!

With the permission from their neighbours on the street they organised four days (Monday- Thursday) of care from 9-11 and Fridays as a dot time. There were 20 children per session with one teacher and one aid. Soon enough their waiting list grew to 400 families and so the kindergarten grew and lived.

Moving to the country in 1985 Anne kept working for the kindergarten kilometres away with the help of two ladies as the ‘managers’ back at home.

While away they converted the other home behind the centre into another kindergarten from 1986-90.

In 1991 Alan and Anne closed the centre behind the original and moved back. Their children longed to be ‘home’ and they wished for their life back in their house.

Home and happy they licensed the kindergarten for 25 children and increased staff.

Alan Says that their vision was to always; since they began, create a space for child development. Where children are really playing in a “kinder’garden’”!

Their wish was to honour the trees and surrounding nature and they have planted many of the large plants you now walk beneath! He said they have cared for the garden for many many years to provide a place for the children to play. The whole time they have always been independent from the government and absolutely love it.

Since Anne’s passing, her daughter Alice has been working with her father to keep the vision her parents shared and began so many years ago. 

Today the kindergarten is 33 years old.