FUND RAISING BID SOON

Taupo Times, Volume 23, Issue 57, 18 July 1974, Page 1

FUND RAISING BID SOON

A public meeting will be called in August to form a committee to start raising funds for a third kindergarten in Taupo. The kindergarten will be built on Crown land near the Waipahihi School and will be open by 1976. "It could even be opened earlier, if we can get cracking on fund raising," a member of the original committee set up to investigate the possibility of a third kindergarten, Mrs R. E. Hawkins, said yesterday. "After all, if the Taupo Senior Citizens' Association could raise $3500 in little

over a month to qualify for a Golden Kiwi grant for their new building, then I can't see why we couldn't raise between $5000 and $7000 in six months." She said the Government had given the kindergarten association a site in its Waipahihi subdivision and the association already had architects' plans for a building. The project could cost about $35,000, but it would be eligible for a four-to-one Government subsidy. "This is going to be a new concept for kindergartens in Taupo, because it is actually going to be

associated with a school," said Mrs Hawkins. "We are extremely grate- , ful to the Government for the site it has given us, and the Waipahihi School is enthusiastic about having a kindergarten nearby." Although there had not been the expected response to a survey held earlier this year in 'the Waipahihi, Gradwell Block, Two Mile Bay, Rainbow Point and Richmond Heights areas, local people had shown they were keen to see the third kindergarten go ahead, she said. Taupo's growth rate was

resulting in overcrowding at existing pre-school education centres, and the town's population was increasing at between 800 and 900 a year. Unless a third kindergarten was built fairly promptly, it would be filled as soon as it opened, Mrs Hawkins said. "Everyone is very conscious of the need for preschool education so I don't , think fund raising will cause us any headaches," she said. Before fund raising can start, however, a public meeting must elect an official committee.