Ashgrove Historical Society Ashgrove Historical Society’s next meeting will be held at Ashgrove Library on 7 August at 10am. If you would like to attend, pleased be aware that, in accordance with the Queensland government’s COVID-19 restrictions, you need to book. To find out the topic for the presentation and to register your attendance, please contact the secretary, Julie, at ahs.secretary@bigpond.com or call 3366 4621. Ashgrove War Memorial Playground and Child Care Centre The roots of what is now known as Ashgrove Memorial Community Kindergarten stem from a public meeting held on 27 March 1945. There were hopes to establish a community playground in Ashgrove on the same lines as the ones in Paddington and Spring Hill which were very popular. In 1946, the Ashgrove Playground Association was canvassing door-to-door to raise initial funds for a child welfare centre near Kadanga Street. However, plans were being hampered by the fact that members of the Communist Party of Australia (CPA) were on the committee. [Following WW2, many citizens feared that communism would undermine Australian plans for a peaceful and secure future. Having communists on the committee severely affected the public’s support]. A motion at the October 1948 meeting, asking the CPA members to resign, was carried 8 votes to 4 with two members abstaining. When the communists refused to resign, Mr Morris (MLA, Member for Enoggera and committee member) gave notice that at the next meeting on 2 November, he would move that the committee disband, and that certain persons be appointed trustees until the committee was reformed without CPA members. Subsequently all positions were declared vacant at the November meeting. The resolution was passed and four people left the hall (though not quietly according to a Courier Mail report). New officials and a committee were elected and a new constitution was written, excluding members of the CPA from membership. Once the communist issue was addressed, public support increased and progress was made. An interim child-care centre opened in the Ashgrove Avenue Methodist Church hall on 25 February 1949. It operated on Fridays with facilities for 30 children. In August 1950, the foundations for the Ashgrove War Memorial Playground and Child Care Centre were laid. A group of volunteers constructed a brick and timber building near Kadanga Street. The two-storey centre contained a kitchen, playrooms, laundries and lockers. The Courier Mail reported that the centre was being built as a war memorial. The development of ‘living memorials’ was gathering momentum at the time and was seen as a more fitting way to honour those who gave their lives whilst serving their country. website: http://www.westernecho.com.au
Memberships available! Quality Family Recreation in a Safe, Relaxed Environment 3 Swimming Pools
2 Floodlit Tennis Courts
4 Glass-Backed Squash Courts
Numerous Gas Barbecue Areas
Don't Miss Out! Contact the Club today trcclub@bigpond.net.au (07) 3366 1560 www.taylorrangecountryclub.com.au 28 Greenlanes Road, Ashgrove
We Look Forward to Hearing from You! The Western Echo July 2021 Page 9
