Sue Collinson with her 40-year IEU membership gift.
Sue Collinson celebrates not just 40 years of IEU membership but also 40 years of teaching at Macquarie Hills Preschool in Cardiff, two hours’ drive north of Sydney.
Sue Collinson is both a proud 40-year IEU member and a strong supporter of the IEU’s Unite for Change campaign, fighting for government-funded pay increases for staff in community preschools (see page 1).
She says that over the years, her career has brought her laughter and tears and sleepless nights. “But I wouldn’t trade it for anything – it’s been amazing,” she said.
Sue undertook her university practicum at Macquarie Hills Preschool in 1982 then went to work at another centre. When that centre experienced financial struggles, she got a call from Macquarie Hills asking her to “please apply for a job”.
She did, and the rest is history. Sue started at Macquarie Hills as a teacher and can’t remember the date she became a director, but it was many years ago. While Macquarie Hills Preschool was initially church-run, it is now run by a parent committee.
Sue and another teacher were instrumental in the fundraising and design of a new facility at the preschool. “I always talk about this place being built on lamingtons,” she said. “We just kept raising money. We bought a block of land. The other teacher and I drew what we wanted, and that’s what they built for us.”
Children Collinson taught are now parents themselves and they bring their own children to the preschool. To celebrate her 40th anniversary, pictures of the mums and dads when they were preschoolers adorned the walls.
“Everyone’s having quite a laugh about that,” Sue said. “As I live in the local community, I’ve seen children grow up alongside my own kids. I can’t go to Woolies at Cardiff without running into someone and talking about their kids.”
The preschool’s philosophy is inspired by a former student. “We were talking about what our mothers and fathers would want us to be when we grew up and this little girl said, ‘my mummy wants me to be brave and be kind’.
“To this day, we still have those words in our philosophy, coming from the heart of the children and the families, but we also try and look at the real world for children and the transition to school.”
The preschool is not close to amenities, apart from a neighbouring aged care facility with which the preschool has developed a strong relationship.
During COVID, the children made a giant hand to wave at elderly residents and they also sent meals. The facility nominated them for an Outstanding Community Initiative award.
“This job has brought me joy,” Sue said. “Just working with these kids, their honesty, their integrity, their strengths and their innocence. I’m absolutely privileged to have worked with so many children.”
The main change during her career has been the increase in documentation, Sue says. Some of this she admits is necessary, but wishes the burden could be lighter.
Retirement isn’t in Sue’s plans. She’s hoping to get her grandchildren attending the preschool so she can enjoy the best of both worlds.