General News
27 June, 2025
Sherelle Mortlock celebrates 20 years at kinder
A G Leech Kindergarten teacher Sherelle Mortlock is celebrating 20 years of making a big difference to little lives.
This week, she celebrates two decades working with Y Kinders alongside her kinder kids and colleagues.
After growing up in Maryborough, and attending the very kindergarten where she has reached this special milestone, Ms Mortlock recalls the meaningful experiences she has had throughout her career, and the many local children who have come through her kindergarten classes.
“It means a lot to me, A G Leech Kindergarten. I just love the families you see out and about down the street, and now all the children remember where they’ve come to kindergarten,” she said.
“That means they’ve had a great experience over the years. I think it’s just really important to stay tapped into the community as well when you’re a teacher in the area.”
Ms Mortlock’s career dates back to her year 11 work experience at California Gully Kindergarten.
Her time there as a teenager confirmed her ambition to work with children.
“I just really enjoyed the fun you can have with children, and just to help them learn lots of new things, they have that little inquisitive mind, it just warms my heart, it really does,” she said.
Initially entering the workforce in a childcare role, Ms Mortlock felt she was more suited to the kindergarten program and juggled studying with her own family responsibilities.
Her kinder career began at just one day a week, once she completed her diploma. After graduating with a Bachelor of Early Childhood in 2007, Ms Mortlock joined the permanent team at A G Leech.
Ms Mortlock’s commitment to delivering the best for her students and her dedication to keeping up with current educational developments saw her introduce the first Bush Kinder program in the area, at a time when it was a new concept.
“Setting up our first Bush Kinder and just to see how children engage in the nature play without any materials at all. They just have to make their own fun. It’s really exciting and very rewarding,” she said.
Ms Mortlock recalled a long list of experiences that have kept her enjoying teaching young children every day, and why she is still so committed to the sector, 20 years from her first day.
She also said there have been huge industry changes throughout her career, including increased kinder opening hours and shifting perceptions, as she believes the value of early education is much more widely recognised than when she was a new graduate.
“The hours have definitely changed. Free kinder for three year olds used to be only for three hours but now it’s free, and they get 15 hours. We also changed to the long day. Instead of the short five hour sessions, we were one of the first places to go to seven and a half hour days,” she said.
“I also really think the importance of play is now valued, and what the children can learn through play, we’re not just sitting being babysitters and playing with Play-Doh all day, we can actually teach them through play. So that’s been a huge shift.”
Additionally, Ms Mortlock finds the rewarding relationship with families, children and other educators priceless, and continually feels the warmth, support, and appreciation of the community.
“My colleagues are just a huge inspiration for everybody and have that real community aspect. The fact that A G Leech has a great name in the community, and we’ve been here for 57 years, I think it is now a really established place in the community where everyone likes to come, which is really lovely, and it’s great feedback for us,” she said.
Ms Mortlock said her passion is not restricted to her teaching hours, as she sees educational opportunities and new ideas everywhere.
“My family teases me on holiday, I can’t help myself and am known to say ‘the kinder kids would love this’ as I take photos and collect items, because I know how excited and fascinated the children will be,” she said.
“I constantly have kinder in my mind and heart.”
With a passion for supporting and connecting with children, Ms Mort-lock awaits many more years in the position.
“I’m not quite at the stage of teaching my former student’s children, but I’m not far off,” she said.
“I really love my job. It’s very exhausting, but it’s super rewarding. As long as I can still get that out of it, I’ll stay.”
Maryborough’s A G Leech Kindergarten is managed by Y Kinders.
Y Kinders is the largest Early Years Management in the state, with 93 kindergartens in its portfolio, five of which are in the Central Goldfields Shire.
