By Emma Sun
COCKATOO’S McBride Street kinder, a famous refuge during the devastating Ash Wednesday fires, will live on to become a special site for future generations.
While it seemed that the kinder was doomed for demolition over the last couple of weeks, Cockatoo residents have stood their ground against Cardinia Shire Council and fought for the kinder to remain.
Their efforts were not in vain, with an announcement early Tuesday morning by Mayor George Blenkhorn and Cockatoo community representatives Dot Griffin, Graham Simpson and Leticia Wilmot that the kinder would no longer be demolished and would form part of an Ash Wednesday memorial park.
“It was unanimously agreed that the concrete slab and the steel frame of the old kinder building be retained – subject to the frame being structurally sound – as part of a proposed Ash Wednesday memorial park,” Cr Blenkhorn said.
Ms Wilmot said the outcome was very exciting for the community.
“Two weeks ago we thought we’d lose the lot,” she said.
“Keeping the site opens up so many possibilities about what can be done in there and it’s now up to the community to put proposals as to what they’d like to see.”
Ms Griffin, who is an Ash Wednesday survivor, said it was a great time for Cockatoo.
“Words can’t express how thrilled we are to know that our beloved kindergarten will remain a part of the Cockatoo landscape,” she said.
“The fact that it’s one of the few buildings that made it through the fatal fires of Ash Wednesday and that it helped saved the lives of so many of our community makes it an intensely special part of our community. It’s a blessing that it’s now here to stay.”
A working group representing both the council and the community will be formed to create a detailed concept for a memorial to symbolise the historical importance of the site.
The council will apply for a heritage grant for the memorial park, which Ms Wilmot said was fantastic news.
“It opens up the opportunity to get so much funding and it means that the building is safe and it has been recognised as a sacred site,” she said.
Cr Blenkhorn said the council hoped to finalise the concept by the end of the year to allow community participation in the creation of the park.
“(We will) work towards an opening date of 16 February 2013, the 30th anniversary of Ash Wednesday,” he said.
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