A much-loved Lismore preschool is preparing to mark a major milestone, celebrating 50 years of caring for generations of local children with a community gathering later this month.

Lismore Parish Centre Preschool will celebrate its 50th birthday this Saturday, 21 February 2026, inviting past families, former students, staff and community members to come together and reflect on half a century of early childhood education in the heart of the city.

Administrator Jo Kilburn says the preschool’s beginnings are firmly rooted in grassroots community spirit.

“It started 50 years ago by a group of community members who wanted an outreach program for mums, families and children,” she said. “About 20 people came together in someone’s lounge room, raised around $3,000, which was a lot of money back then, and that’s how the idea of a community preschool was born.”

Photos from the early days (image supplied)

The preschool found a home at the Parish Centre after a local reverend suggested there was space available.

For Jo, the anniversary is also deeply personal. While she has worked at the preschool for 14 years, her family’s connection goes back much further.

“My younger brother and sister were here in the first five years after it opened,” she said. “My family’s been associated with the preschool for about 45 years now. Then my own children came here too, so it’s been a big part of our lives.”

Over the decades, the preschool has weathered challenges shared by the wider Lismore community, including floods and the COVID pandemic. During lockdowns, staff kept the connection alive for families.

“We were open for essential services children, and for those at home we did online programs and sent out little activity kits,” Jo said. “It was a really isolating time for staff too. We split into two teams that didn’t overlap so we could keep operating safely.”

Through working bees, grants and family support, the preschool has continued to evolve. A new indoor-outdoor bathroom redevelopment is the next major project, designed to improve accessibility and supervision for children.

What makes the preschool special, Jo says, is its continuity.

“There’s not a lot of staff turnover, and that’s something community preschools do really well,” she said. “We’re also seeing third-generation families now, which is pretty special. Parents say, ‘This is where I went to preschool,’ and sometimes even grandparents were here too.”

The 50th birthday celebrations will reflect that strong sense of history and connection. From 2.30pm, the preschool will be open for a short walkthrough, followed by the planting of a commemorative tree. The afternoon will continue in the parish hall with a slideshow of photos spanning decades, displays of old class pictures, afternoon tea, cake cutting and plenty of shared memories.

“It won’t be too formal,” Jo said. “Just a nice, relaxed afternoon celebrating 50 years of the preschool and the community that’s supported it.”

The celebration is more than a birthday, it’s a reminder of how community-led ideas can grow into lasting institutions, shaping generations along the way.