By Sarah Booth
Family day care educator Jane Thomas has been named a regional winner of the 2019 Excellence in Family Day Care Awards for the third time.
The Chum Creek resident took out the prize for the Yarra Valley and High-Country area, having previously won in 2013 and 2017.
But Ms Thomas, who is registered with Murrindindi Family Day Care, was quick to share the praise with the parents who nominated her for the award.
“It’s a team effort. All the parents back me, so it’s really great,” she said.
She described her family day care, where she typically looks after four children at a time on her one-acre property as a ‘modern bush kinder’.
The former organic farmer is passionate about sharing her love of the outdoors with the children and teaching them that not ‘everything comes from a shop shelf’.
As spring rolls around, the children tend to the garden, helping to plant, water and harvest vegetables, which they can then bring home with them.
Ms Thomas also teaches them cooking, using their produce to make sun-dried tomatoes or pots of fruit jam.
The children can then take any food scraps to the worm farm, which is a popular activity.
“The fascination of peering over the lid and watching all the worms is something the children never tire of,” Ms Thomas said.
When they’re not busy in the organic vegetable patch or kitchen, the group can be found out bushwalking.
They learn to identify different types of frogs, flowers and animal tracks, and collect leaves, gum nuts and other items to use in their art projects.
“I really hope they take away a love of the outside and appreciate what we have and learn how to care for it. I hope they notice the small things in life,” Ms Thomas said.
Ms Thomas has been working as a family day care educator for the past nine years, but she doesn’t see it that way.
“To me, it’s not like working.”
“I just really enjoy what I do. I love the great outdoors. I love sharing everything I know, and experiences and adventures with the children. I’m very fortunate to do something that I really enjoy.”
Family Day Care Australia CEO Andrew Paterson said the award recognises Ms Thomas’ dedication to her work.
“It also underscores the relationship that Jane has with the children in her care,” he said.
As a regional winner, Ms Thomas is now in the running for the National Family Day Care Educator of the Year Award.
A record number of more than 5000 nominations were submitted.
National finalists will be announced on 14 October, with the winner revealed at a Family Day Care Gala Dinner on the 23 November in Hobart.
If you would like to enquire about Ms Thomas’ Family Day Care, contact her on 0407 841 561. Ms Thomas has one vacancy left on a Friday next year.
