The funds were raised at a dinner celebrating 40 years of the Holbrook Early Learning Centre held on Friday night.

“As we celebrate our 40th birthday it  is as much a celebration of the centre, but also the ongoing support of the local community,” centre director Gina Weaven said.

The money will go towards a rubber soft fall area under the playground equipment and setting up bike safety area which will include a cement riding track, bikes and road signs.

“Many people worked very hard behind the scenes to make the night a resounding success. In particular Bridie Heriot, Jamie Ingle, Phoebe Bull, Jodie Hulme, Tania Saunders, Rose Bennetts and Stephanie Hartwich; Gina Weaven, the Centre Director, and all the educators from Holbrook Early Learning Centre,” Ms Weaven said.

The centre was established in 1970 after Meryl Allworth held a meeting to get the pre-school started the year before.

Ms Allworth was also the first teacher at the centre for two years before she convinced one of the mothers to take over.

Viv Taylor, who was a qualified primary school teacher, took over the role and taught at the centre for 30 years.

Six years after starting the preschool moved into its own building after a grant allowed them to build on ground donated by council. The preschool is still held in the same building today.

Today there are 100 children from 66 families enrolled at the centre which employs 17 people, 16 of whom live locally.

The centre is community owned and managed with all running costs funded by the parents and local community.