The fight to save Cockatoo’s McBride Street kinder building has spurred on Alan Downing to run for Cardinia Shire Council. 69391
By Russell Bennett and Emma Sun
A COCKATOO kinder campaigner has slammed council secrecy, saying it has spurred him on to stand at the next election.
Alan Downing, chairman of the Save the Cockatoo McBride Street Kinder Action Group, made his announcement on 17 August – a day after the council and local residents reached a stunning agreement to save the historic site.
He said he was sick of the “poor state” of consultation between the council and his fellow Cockatoo residents and said current Ranges Ward councillors Ed Chatwin and Graeme Legge would “have some competition” if they chose to run again.
But Cardinia Shire mayor George Blenkhorn and Cockatoo community representatives Dot Griffin, Graham Simpson and Leticia Wilmot announced last Tuesday (16 August) that the kinder site would form part of an Ash Wednesday memorial.
“(We will) work towards an opening date of 16 February 2013, the 30th anniversary of Ash Wednesday,” Cr Blenkhorn said.
“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.”
Ms Wilmot said the outcome was 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, 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.”
Cardinia Shire Council and community groups will work together to come up with a detailed concept for the site.
And the council will also apply for a heritage grant for the site, 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 creating the memorial.
In outlining his plans to stand for a Ranges Ward seat, Mr Downing said he would take advice from all ward residents in developing his policies and welcomed the opportunity to hear from local community groups.
