Glenorchy 1964-1998 by Alison Alexander and David Young - Glenorchy City Council 1998 - page 394-395
In 1991 CRESAP also advised closure of various kindergartens in Glenorchy, Lutana and Landy Ashbolt, which was also in Lutana. Parents fought against this, and in the end only Lady Ashbolt was closed, and the children were sent to Lutana.
Glenorchy 1964-1998 by Alison Alexander and David Young - Glenorchy City Council 1998 - page 185
One of the first in the municipalty was Lutana Free Kindergarten, set up by the EZ Company in the early 1920s in a hall owned by the company. In the 1970s, Lutana came under the control of the Education Department, to whom EZ leased the hall for a peppercorn rent while continuing to maintain the building as a free service. In the 1990s, 25 children attended the kindergarten on three mornings per week.
The Electrode - Vol. 4. December, 1927 No. 12. - page 376-377
“Green gravel, Green gravel, the grass is so green,
The fairest young lady that ever was seen.
We’ll dress her in silk and bathe her in milk,
And write down her name with a gold pen and ink.”
And its only connection, or excuse, at the heading of these notes lies in the few last words in the very last line, for, metaphorically, I am writing with a “gold pen and ink,” in order that this small portion of “The Electrode” may be bright - if only in that way.
For what is a humble amateur to do when the Editor send a little note like this?
“Help to make this year’s Christmas number the best yet by submitting something bright and breezy for it.”
So I contribute the brightness in gold ink, and the “breeziness” I am endeavouring to keep unnoticed.
The request has so near a kinship to that of the kindly photographer when one sits nervously on the edge of the photographer’s artistic chair, and he cheerfully asks one to “Now, please, look pleasant.”
However, there are one or two items in the kindergarten realm which are little points of brightness in the small page of kindergarten history which contains the chapter headed Lutana, and dated October, 1927. One is that there are now 55 children on the register, and promise of more.
Item two. That the fair help at Moonah this year was successful to the tune of about 50 pound, which is a help at least towards our annual effort of 100 pound. Nothing has been done in the way of entertainments this year, such as euchre and dance parties, which were held last year, but there is still another six months left in which to try and raise 50 pound more.
The third item was a very nice musical evening held in the Glen tea-rooms in honour of the students who have passed their examinations, and are now qualified to act as directors, or teachers, of kindergarten. The diplomas were presented by Lady Jones, who is one of the foundation members of the Kindergarten Association. The programme was arranged by Mr. Jas. Marsh. A little play was given by Mr. E. E. Unwin and Miss M. Rowlands. They spoke of the uplift that a well-trained little child can give to a whole family, of the need to train up a child in the way he should go while he is yet small, of the need to make him a good little citizen, and to give him an opportunity for some social life, so that he never be like the little boy the the poem by Patricia Ardley, who said:-
Sometimes I march wiv cap an’ drum,
An’ tend I am a band,
An’ muvver claps her hand an’says,
‘O John, that’s really grand!’
She’s just the dearest muvver,
But it’s not the same;
A fellow needs anuvver man
To play a mannish game.”
For kindergarten provides quite a lot of men (in the making) to play a mannish game.
Another bright item is the very welcome donation of 10 pound from the Co-operative Council. The committee wish to that the Council very much for their generosity.
And there is just one more item, and this also is really a bright one (to the children certainly) - the Christmas tree. December 14th has been selected as a suitable day for Father Christmas to arrive, and the committee are looking for a suitable tree. If anyone can procure one, we should be glad - and does Mr. Bryant know what a very nice Father Christmas came to Lutana last year?
Once acted, twice proficient, Mr. Bryant. Parents are friends are invited on the afternoon of December 14th to meet Father Christmas (Wednesday at 3 p.m.), and will the ladies please bring a basket?
And now, as Mr. Pepys says, “to bed,” for
“When the shades of night are falling, and the sun goes down,
O! the Dustman comes a-creeping in from Shut-eye Town,
And he throws dust in the eyes of all the babies that he meets,
No matter where he finds them, in the house or in the streets.
Then the babies’ eyes grow heavy and the lids drop down,
When the Dustman comes a-creeping in from Shut-eye Town.
When mother lights the lamp and draws the curtains down,
O! the Dustman comes a-creeping in from Shut-eye Town;
And the babies think the Dustman is as mean as he can be,
For he shuts their eyes at nightfall, just when they want to see.
But their little limbs are weary, for all they fret and frown,
When the Dustman comes a-creeping in from Shut-eye Town.”
Wishing everyone a merry Christmas and happy new year from the Lutana Free Kindergarten.
First meeting for 1927 on Wednesday February 9.
New term commences February 3rd 1927.
The Electrode - Vol. 4. Feb, 1927 No. 7. - page 204
Book work was up to date. Miss Trappes’s criticisms of the student gave indication of earnest effort on the part of Miss Sale. This hall makes a really delightful kindergarten. It is bright, light, clean, fresh, and airy, with lovely views from its windows. Owing to its many public uses some forms of equipment are unsuitable, and no garden can be attempted. It is a pity the weeds cannot be cleared away, and one corner levelled for a childrens sand-pile.
The platform windows have been curtained, and the place used for a special babies’ room.
The room needs little decoration. A few flowers and pictures, and a gay wall dado of animals and children give a suggestion of childishness.
The control is very pleasing. Miss Trappes speaks in quiet, winning tones, which secure both ready co-operation, and a beautiful atmosphere. The children’s enjoyment in their work is in no way hampered because they are trained to control themselves, to speak and move quietly and courteously, and to listen when others are speaking. Miss Trappes plays well, and knows how to obtain control and to give direction and suggestion through the key-board. The children are a good type. They are clean and well-cared for, and usually wear slippers or sand shoes to safeguard themselves on the polished floor.
Each child brings its own lunch. The community spirit is fostered, however, as they all sit down together and enter into intimate conversation while buns, cake, bread and butter, biscuits, fruit, all meet a like fate.
The rhythm was very well done, some of the tiny ones attempting the simpler steps.
Morning talk showed good control, children being trained to wait till called upon, and to listen for questions.
There is a fine, happy, sunny, refined atmosphere here.
28/10/26.
The Electrode - Vol. 4. February, 1927 No. 7. - page 204
WEE HUGHIE.
He’s gone to school, wee Hughie,
An’ him not four,
Sure I sae the fright was in him
When he left the door.
But he took a hand o’ Denny,
An’ a hand o’ Dan,
Wi’ Joe’s owld coat upon him -
Och, the poor wee man!
He cut the quarest figure,
More stout nor thin;
An’ trottin’ right an’ steady
Wi’ his toes turned in.
I watched him in the corner
O’ the big turf stack,
An’ the more his feet went forrit,
Still his head turned back.
He was lookin’ would I call him -
Och, my heart was woe -
Sure it’s lost I am without him,
But he be to go.
I followed to the turnin’;
When they passed it by,
God help him, he was cryin’,
An’ maybe, so was I.
-Elizabeth Shane.
The new term of the new year commenced at Lutana Free Kindergarten on February 3rd, and 35 little Hughies, with little susters as well, have taken “a hand o’ Denny an’ a hand o’ Dan,” and started on the gentle beginning of school with Miss Trappes at Kindergarten.
Central Committee, which is composed of representatives from each of the four Kindergartens, Central-street, Federal-street, Anglsea-street and Lutana, held its first meeting on Tuesday, February 8th. Each kindergarten reported larger numbers of children on the role for this year than at the same time last year, which speaks well for the appreciation of Kindergarten training, and the kindy help of the teachers.
Lutana Commitee held its first meeting for this year on Wednesday, February 9th. The Social Commitee reported that the Thursday night dancing classes have not been paying lately, so that on Mr. E. Borehams’s recommendation, it os proposed to hold a dance on alternate Wednesdays at the Moonah Community Hall, instead, as is in a more central position.
Consideration is being given to obtain a sandpile for the children to play in; and a spot which the Commitee thought suitable was chosen near the small gate by Mrs. Grubbs’s store. A working bee is to be called together, and a suitable edging erected, then some generous friend is to be approached for two loads of white sand. After that the busy-bees will be of the next generation, and buckets and spades will be the order of the day. And the times when-
“I followed to the turnin’;
When they passed it by.
God help him, he was cryin’,
An’, maybe, so was I,”
are over; for the little ones run off so happily to Kindergarten that no mother need feel sore at heart at sparing her little one for a few hours, while his small feet are learning to walk strongly on the road of life; for the Kindergarten “road” is a pathway smoothed and bordered with sweet bright flowers.
The Electrode - Vol. 4. Feb, 1927 No. 7. - page 205
This picture shows inside the hall with the children of the kindergarten in a circle playing a game.
The Electrode - Vol. 4. September, 1926 No. 5. - page 162-163
Annual Report of Lutana Free Kindergarten.
June, 1926.
Patron and Patroness: Mr. and Mrs. David Meredith.
President: Mr. C. R. Baker.
Vice-President: Mrs. W. White.
Auditor: Mr. C. O. Turner.
Treasurer: Mr. W. White.
Secretary: Mrs. C. R. Baker.
Committee:
Mr. and Mrs. S. Harper
Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Hutchin
Mr. and Mrs. Laing
Mrs. Sturgess
Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong
Mrs. E. Boreham
Mr. and Mrs. Tait
Mr. Henshaw
Mrs. A. W. Cook
Mrs. F. Grubb
Mrs. T. Boreham
Mrs. L. Heyward
Lutana Free Kindergarten has now reached the end of its second year, and the Committee has endeavoured to carry on the programme which was arranged during the previous year, as far as keeping interest and raising funds were concerned. The programme of activities for the children has, of course, been varied and progressive under the capable care of Miss Rowlands, Miss M. V. Trappes, Misses Burrows, Sole, Piesse, Roberts, Schaedel, Loney, and other students. While a nice lot of new equipment has greatly helped.
Owing to several of the old Committee moving to distant places we found it necessary to appoint several new members at our last Annual Meeting; and for the same reason it will again be necessary to nominate more this year, but we hope that all of those who are left and have so ably and willingly helped so far will still be heading our report next year. We deeply regret the loss of those who have left.
We started the year last July with 45 children on the register, and in November reached the high figure of 60. But after vacation, many little ones were admitted at the State School at 5 years old, and so our numbers decreased to 24. Since then it has gradually risen to 41 in May, and will probably increase when warmer weather comes.
A Birthday Afternoon Tea at 2:30 p.m. in Lutana Hall to celebrate the Second Anniversary of the opening of Lutana Free Kindergarten.
All parents and friends are invited to attend.