Bluebird Early Education Cobram educator Debbie Townley has celebrated 25 years of service to the community since the centre’s opening in 1997.
Debbie began her career when she completed her diploma in 1981 and worked in several services across Melbourne, Bendigo and Albury-Wodonga before coming to the Cobram area.
She got the job at Bluebird after hearing they were looking for educators and hasn’t looked back.
“It would be my love of children (that’s kept me around) ... you can go to work and sing a song, or be silly, and the children love that,” she said.
“I’ve now worked with some educators who I looked after when they were little and now they’re my colleagues.”
Debbie explained that little had changed about the centre over the years, but she’s also made some lifelong friends.
“I’ve got some lifelong friends that I’ve worked with over the years, they’ve moved away but we still keep in contact,” she said.
“It’s very much appreciated ... all the children I’ve enjoyed looking after, thank you to the wonderful staff I’ve worked with.”
The group at Bluebird Education Cobram has congratulated Debbie on her achievement and said they would be “lost” without her.
“You have shaped so many lives within this community, including some of the educators who now work with you. You have touched the lives of families and children and inspired so many educators,” they said.
“Best of all, watching you with the children every single day is inspiring and motivating.”
“We thank you for showing up every day, and being the best role model you can be. We thank the commitment you uphold to out of work hours and the hard work within.”
Oxanda Education, who owns Bluebird Early Education, has also congratulated her on her 25 -year achievement.
“A national educational hero. Caring, nurturing and educating for families in Cobram for 25 years. Absolutely adored in Cobram and surrounds. An inspiration to all,” Oxanda Education director Adrian Fonseca said.