By Brendan Rees
A child educator described as a “woman with a heart of gold” has been honoured for dedicating half-a-century of teaching and bringing fun to children’s lives.It has been 50 years since Judy Clarkson began looking after four children at her family home in Cranbourne – which became the birth of her kindergarten empire.
Since then, Cranbourne Day Care and Kindergarten Centre have grown to include six centres catering for some 800 Casey families.
Hundreds gathered on Saturday 13 October to celebrate Ms Clarkson’s milestone in providing a fun, learning atmosphere for children.
Daughter Sharon Smith said it all began from humble beginnings when her mother welcomed four children into her home in 1968 so her sister could have a “playmate” while she and her brother Howard went to Cranbourne North Primary school.
She said this number quickly grew to registering 16 children by the end of the same year.
“Alongside my dear father Ivan they both became a great team – working long hours together doing everything from cooking the hot meals for those in their care to even hanging out the washed nappies.”
Sharon said her mother felt it was important to be part of the Cranbourne community, adding their staff had “been a significant part of this amazing journey.”
By the 1970s, the centres had grown to care for 119 children. “I was at high school during this time and I recall ever so proudly telling my school friends that ‘my mother owns the biggest childcare centre in Australasia’,” Sharon explained.
Coordinator of the centre in Mundaring Drive, Cranbourne, Alison Marshall said Judy held “a special place in my heart.”
“Not only is she a smart, courageous and an incredible business woman, but also, a loving and caring mother, grandmother, great grandmother, friend and dog owner,” she said.
“Jude was the cook and created the ever popular sausage stew and mince steak that have stood the test of time.”
Casey Deputy Mayor Cr Amanda Stapledon described Judy as a “trailblazer.”
“She is a devoted mother to her family who she has raised to be like-minded and just as committed, she is also a mother to so many in Cranbourne,” she said.
“Judy is a visionary, an entrepreneur and a woman with a heart of gold. She and her hard working family are providing quality and beneficial outcomes for Cranbourne.”
Cranbourne Day Care and Kindergarten Centre will continue their 50th anniversary celebrations with a family fun day on Saturday 24 November.
The event will kick off at 11am-3pm at Pyrenees Road, Clyde (behind Shopping on Clyde). Free kids entertainment, face painting, police, ambulance and fire truck display, animal farm, food truck and more.
