Tuesday, 24 May 2022

Sharon Cummins

Mr RICHARDSON (Mordialloc) (12:35): Today we recognise the wonderful contribution of Sharon Cummins, an outstanding early childhood educator in our Kingston community. Sharon has been the heart and soul of Chelsea Heights Kindergarten for more than 22 years. Passionate, talented and dedicated, Sharon has mentored educators and inspired so many to follow their passion while supporting countless children in their learning and development. When you visit Chelsea Heights Kindergarten you feel the spirit, energy and purpose bursting from learning and creative spaces. The philosophy and values have been formed over many years under the careful attention of Sharon and her team.

I first met Sharon back in 2014 when she led the community campaign to keep Chelsea Heights Kindergarten at their site on Third Avenue. Sharon knew if the community kinder moved we would lose the character of the learning spaces, which had been shaped for over half a century. And Sharon was absolutely right: she helped Chelsea Heights kinder remain on that site and undergo a wonderful redevelopment on Third Avenue to continue to support our kids for generations to come.

Before leading Chelsea Heights kinder, Sharon worked at Evesham Road Kindergarten and also Parkdale Preschool. Every weekend she would give up her time and go around to all the kinders, setting up inspired learning and playing spaces for those kids. That is just the kind of beautiful and caring person Sharon is, always putting others first. There are so many people who love and care about her in our community, and her enduring legacy will live on in our community. On behalf of the Victorian government and our community, I thank her for her incredible service.