A CHILD CARE EXPERT WHO REALLY DOES CARE...

A CHILD CARE EXPERT WHO REALLY DOES CARE...

✦ Getting to know Gayle Kee

Gayle Kee

The care, stewardship and development of our young ones is critical, something TG’s Child Care has excelled in for the past 24 years by providing a safe, fun, engaging environment for children. Driven by their mantra “Playing is Learning for Life”, their trusted and respected reputation has been built with purpose, expertise and care. And it shows. As their website states, “Families say TG’s Child Care just feels right.”

Most readers will no doubt be more than aware of TG’s but probably know a lot less about the woman behind the story. So we caught up with Gayle Kee to find out what makes her tick and what it takes to run such a successful enterprise.

Talk to Gayle for less than a minute and it is evidently clear that she is a lady of conviction that truly cares about what she does. Child care isn’t just a job for Gayle, it is a way of life - early childhood education is a passion that she has honed and provided to countless grateful families over the years.

The notions of love, care, trust and respect that serve as the backbone to TG’s have been prevalent throughout all of Gayle’s life, from her growing up in rural Victoria through to her early days working in childcare.

She admits that from a very early age she was a strong advocate of the underdog, of wanting to always protect those that were struggling, being teased, bullied or marginalised in anyway. She also recounts being based in Papunya in the Northern Territory for the final two years of her primary schooling and the lasting impression it had on her: “It significantly shaped me with my learning and understanding around other cultures and the importance of inclusivity, ensuring everyone is included and respected and has a sense of belonging.”

➸ Gayle loves to fly!

Yin and Yang

Gayle met Trevor in High School where they became childhood sweethearts. Very much the yin to her yang, Trevor would, in time, become Gayle’s husband, best friend, biggest influence and business partner.

Trevor specialises in garden landscaping, a key component of a successful childcare centre and an expertise that has complemented Gayle’s skillset perfectly, contributing significantly to their success.

Ironically, the couple realised their true passion after they sold their first childcare venture in Wauchope in 2007, a decision they almost instantly came to regret.

➸ Gayle and Trevor met in High School and were childhood sweethearts.

“It felt like a loss of identity of sorts. There was a definite sense of loss, it was very peculiar,” reflects Gayle.

Inevitably, it wasn’t long before the couple found a new location in Uralla, closely followed by a second in Armidale. Three more centres would in time emerge in Wauchope and the latest addition is in Urangan in Hervey Bay.

Throughout all, the values of care, love, compassion, respect, trust and fun are the bedrock that Gayle and Trevor have built their business on, fundamental to their success and growth. Constantly encouraging others to develop, providing the right environment and culture for everyone to identify and understand their skillset, gifts and superpowers have seen the business blossom, something that applies to the staff as well and children.

“We are completely invested in the business and staff, offering continual improvement opportunities,” comments Gayle. “Everyone who walks through the door at our child care centres must be made to feel welcomed and valued and that they belong. It is all about how we make people feel.”

For someone who has inspired so many others, I decide to ask Gayle what inspires her most of all.

“Seeing the smile on a child’s face,” she says. “Seeing the significant difference our centres can have on a child, building trust, watching them grow with confidence and learning new skills - these are all the things I cherish about my work.”

TG’s is clearly built on sound foundations and values that have fostered a community akin to one big happy family, with everyone contributing and worth their weight in gold. It therefore almost feels like a redundant question to ask what the future holds.

“We are so committed to this business and everyone involved in it, so committed to the communities we serve that we just plan to carry on,” says Gayle. “We could quite easily sell up and retire but that doesn’t appeal at all. Plus, we tried selling up once before and didn’t like the outcome,” she reminds me with a smile!