Susanna Freymark
Even in retirement Karen McDermott will “do anything for Jumbunna”.
“I’m only a phonecall away if they need me,” she said.
After 35 years of giving her all, Ms McDermott has retired at 63 years old.
“I was the face of Jumbunna for a long time,” she said.
“And I am very proud of it.”
But it was a time for a change, she said.
Ms Mc Dermott plans to spend time with her family and go on holiday.
“It’s time for new leadership,” she said.
Raylene Cowie, Ms McDermott’s deputy for the past three years takes over as Jumbunna manager.
Jumbunna Community Preschool and Early Intervention Centre supports 300 children and their families.
Ms McDermott is proud of the new Jumbunna Hub — a purpose built preschool that offers early childhood support, NDIS support into adulthood, health alliance and psychology and counselling.
The hub opened in March 2023. Read about that here.
Ms McDermott started at Jumbunna as an untrained assistant. While working fulltime she studied for her degree and Masters in education.
She is proud of her relationship with the staff.
“It’s a team effort,” she said.
When she started at Jumbunna there were five staff.
Now there are 54 staff members.
We’ve had parents who went to Jumbunna who now bring their children here and they say they feel safe here, she said.
At the Jumbunna Christmas party at the RSM, a young man came up to Ms McDermott to say hello.
“I taught you,” she said to him.
It was a poignant moment.
One of the challenges of running a preschool is that every time the government changes, new regulations come in, she said.
Most people in Casino know about Jumbunna, even if they’ve had nothing to do with the preschool.
“Casino is a very generous town, “ she said about their fundraising for the preschool.
As Ms McDermott leaves the preschool where she spent so much time, she said she has grown as Jumbunna has grown.
“I see myself as privileged to have led the team,” she said.
Ms McDermott can watch from afar as Jumbunna continues to grow and expand into its new hub.