The children of East Lismore Community Preschool are appealing to the Northern Rivers Community for help. They need donations so they can rebuild the community’s preschool – or as they call it their ‘forever home’.

Like so many places, East Lismore Preschool, which has educated the children of our community for almost 50 years was destroyed in the floods. They want to rebuild and have designed a great new preschool – designed to withstand any flood.

The NSW Government had agreed to fund the new centre. But because of the rising cost of building materials between the grant application, the council development application and the builder’s capacity to start due to a saturated market post flood, there is now a large funding gap.

Preschool Director Sonya McPherson said they have chosen Bennett Constructions to do the build, however, each month they wait to start construction is another 1% in material increases. Hence why the cash shortfall,

“Bennett’s have been in this community even longer than we have. We are committed to our community, and we want this building to be strong – choosing Bennett was a no-brainer for us," Sonya said.

But the only way to get the preschool rebuilt is with donations.

“Like so many, even with insurance, the rebuilding was such a bigger cost that could never have been foreseen. Now we can make sure we are never impacted again. We know there have been lots of appeals in the community, but we will literally not be able to proceed unless we get much-needed funds. Bennetts are working hard with us trying to find ways we can reduce costs in any way we can, they’ve been fantastic to work with. With the communities help, Bennetts can start work.”

The East Lismore Community Preschool has another DA before council to put in a footbridge over the drain at the back of the preschool going to, what will be the new Wade Park. It forms part of the evacuation route in case of another big flood.

(DA approved The East Lismore Community Preschool, and the new footbridge awaiting approval)

The Preschool hopes that even if people only have a small amount to give, they realise every cent helps. People might also know somebody in the community who can also help too.

East Lismore Preschool has been operating out of temporary premises on the school grounds of Wyrallah Road Public School since the floods. But as Sonya says “The children just want to go back to our old preschool. That is impossible but we can get them into a new building on our old site – they deserve and need to have a forever home. Now we can only provide half the places we used to while we are in a temporary building”.

If people wish to make a donation, the Preschool’s building fund bank account is BSB 082-707 Account Number 24-222-7400 Account name: East Lismore Community Preschool. 

For more information about the project and how you can help, contact Sonya McPherson on 0429 107 762 or email director@eastlismorepreschool.com.