Bagot Road Children's Centre...Jeff And Dora Gordon (1975).
This is my 200th blog post. One of the things I have been interested in researching and writing about is ordinary people and children doing extraordinary things. This is another one of those stories told by Ken Spillman in his book 'Tales of a singular city. Subiaco since the 1970's' about two Subiaco Church of Christ members, Jeff and Dora Gordon who established an out of school hours care for local school age children in Subiaco.
This story, partly is a continuation on from the work of the children, many who lived in Subiaco who were members of Sunshine League ran by the Daily News newspaper in Western Australia. The Sunshine League was established over a hundred years ago, and the children who were members raised money for the Perth Children's Hospital in Subiaco and visited a range of places like hospitals and old people's homes to spread good cheer and provide charity. The story of the Sunshine League and the children who belonged and adults who ran it can be found on previous posts on this blog.
"Jeff and Dora Gordon had made a signal contribution to the quality of life for many parents and many children - parents of the future. They were ordinary people doing extraordinary things, seeking neither reward nor recognition. Their attitude was probably best expressed by Dora : 'To God be the glory, great things He has done.' "(Spillman, 2006, p.75).
The Bagot Road Children's Centre opened on 10 February, 1975. The Centre operated from 7.30 am to 8.45 am and 3.15 pm to 5.30 pm. During this time the Centre would offer the children who attended refreshments including breakfast and activities. Dora and Jeff Gordon met children across the road outside the Subiaco Primary School and escorted them across the road. The cost to parents and carers was $1.25 per week. In 1976, the Gordon's, employed an assistant and volunteers assisted provided vacation care from 7.30 am to 5.30 pm. The Centre moved to a weatherboard house at 260 Bagot Road where the backyard was developed onto a playground with play equipment for the children. They also established a mother's club (Spillman, 2006, p.73).
Of particular interest is the way Gordons accommodated the needs of the children especially those from Year 4 to Year 7 who wanted their own space. That story is copied below from Spillman's book and conversations conducted with the Gordons.
In 1974 Dora Gordon noticed a number of children being left unsupervised at the Subiaco Primary School before and after school. Spillman (2006, p,71-72) states "...This was a relatively new social phenomenon - a consequence of the trend for mothers to seek paid employment a a corollary of safety concerns about children making their way to and from school. Schoolyards had open spaces for games and, in most cases, playground equipment. They were familiar to the children and usually provided the complany of friends. While many parents were uneasy about leaving their children for long periods without adult caregivers, the idea their there was 'safety in numbers' was reassuring. The children of parents unable to provided or arrange supervised care before or after school were effectively 'locked out' of their homes for several hours each day, and the media dubbed them 'latchkey children'..."
Dora Gordon recognised after observing children in school grounds recognised there was a need for a before and after school hours care and the Subiaco Church of Christ was in the position to provide one. After extensive research including the parents and school staff at Jolimont, Thomas Street, Subiaco and Rosalie primary schools there was ample evidence to suggest children were arriving before school started and staying after school had finished and left unsupervised (Spillman, 2006, p.72).
"In 1974 Jeff and Dora sort permission from the Subiaco Church of Christ to use the church's fellowship hall, one adjoining room, the kitchen and the toilets to establish an out school child care centre for primary school children. The board approved and established a committee to oversea the operations and funding was applied for from OSCCA..." (Spillman, 2006, p.72).
Spillman (2006) states "The Gordons, meanwhile responded to changing needs and numbers by introducing new activities and revising the way they utilised the spaces. When children expressed a 'big kids verses kids' frame of mind, for example, the Gordons set aside the garage as 'a great and special place' for the children from Year 4 to Year 7 to 'hide away'. The garage became 'A place where big kids could talk, have afternoon tea together, draw up their own program, play their kind of music, cook on their stove... They took great pride in their own private place. Under the supervision of an understanding play-leader they developed their independence with joy, and the younger children looked forward to becoming a 'four-to-sevener'...
Once each year, the children performed at concerts in the Fellowship Hall, sometimes making costumes and decorating the all for the occasion. 'To have an appreciative audience of 100 parents and friends was always very exciting' Dora Gordon recalled. The Gordons always encourage contact between children in their care and the elderly. With a senior citizens centre nearby, Thanksgiving was celebrated by presenting the seniors with baskets of food, and choral singing. They also celebrated multiculturalism. This, Dora wrote 'enriched all our lives, giving one another learning experiences...' In time, the BCC name was dropped, and the centre became known as the Subiaco Children's Centre, which reflected its district importance..." (Spillman, 2006, p.75).
Today the Subiaco Primary School manage their own before and after school care in the school environment which began in 1994.
The photographs are from Ken Spillman's book 'Tales of a singular city. Subiaco since the 1970's'. No copyright infringement intended.
Jeff and Dora Gordon (no copyright infringement intended).
Children at the Subiaco Children's Centre c 1985 (no copyright infringement intended).
