IT WAS a very teary day on Monday December 18, when Meeniyan Preschool celebrated the early education career and retirement of Fay Sinclair.
Known as ‘Mrs Sinclair’ to all the children and adults alike, Fay has taught multiple generations, teaching at Meeniyan kindergarten for 23 years.
“I love my job, the children and the people I work with. I didn’t have to work,” Fay stated in her speech to the crowd that gathered to celebrate her career.
Fay started her career in 1983 with Marg Fox at the kindergarten in Hassett Street, Leongatha.
Back then the four-year-olds only did two half hour sessions four days a week.
Now, four year olds do a minimum of 15 hours per week.
How things have changed over the time.
Fay joined Meeniyan Preschool as a staff member in 1999, after helping run the kinder as a member of the committee of management for the previous seven years.
On display at the celebration were numerous class photos from Fay’s career, including a kinder photo of the current vice president, Nat Goodfellow and more recently, that of her daughters.
After an emotional speech from the current president of the kinder, Melissa McRae, Fay finished her speech with, “I know there is life after work and the community is my passion, so I look forward to holidays and catching up with my friends. I wish the Meeniyan Preschool all the best for the future and I will certainly miss seeing the children, parents and staff.”
The committee of management of Meeniyan preschool are grateful to Fay for the dedication she has shown to her job over many years.
Not least, her cheerfully warm welcome that greeted everyone each day, her amazingly creative activities, her passion and her ‘get the job done’ mentality has meant that she will be sorely missed.
However, the community will now benefit more from her passion. Enjoy those holidays, Fay!
