Qld’s best childcare educator revealed, with Bundaberg winner

Queensland’s childcare educators play a vital and often undervalued role in the future of our children. Now we’ve found the best of the best.

They are the heart and soul our the industry – Queensland’s childcare educators play a vital and often undervalued role in the future of our children.

Over the past 12 months News Corp has been on the hunt to name and reward the very best in the field from each city and town: Now we’ve found the best in the state.

From Cairns in the north to Gold Coast in the south, we asked for your votes, with Bundaberg’s Miss Bec (Acorn East) taking out the title.

■ READ ABOUT THE WINNER HERE

Second was Quona Mooney (Kookaburra Child Care Centre), with Ashton Pohlmann (C&K Queensbeach) finishing third.

See the full list of nominations plus the final results below >>>

Jump to: Mackay | Whitsundays and Bowen | Rockhampton | Gladstone | Bundaberg | Burnett | Gympie | Sunshine Coast | Cairns | Gold Coast | Brisbane | Townsville

MACKAY

■ Quona Mooney: Kookaburra Child Care Centre

■ Rochelle Gorman: Wonder Kids Early Learning Centre

■ Rachel Butterworth: Hot Tots Educational Centre

■ Ange Bromley: Goodstart Early Learning – Shakespeare St, Anita Hart: Goodstart Early Learning Walkerston and Rashay Tass: My School Childcare, Kindergarten Slade Point

■ Alanna Blee: Goodstart Early Learning Rural View and Emma Brough: Ooralea Education & Care Centre

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WHITSUNDAYS AND BOWEN

■ Ashton Pohlmann: C&K Queensbeach

■ Juliette Kirk: Bowen Childcare and Early Education Centre

■ Anna Woodhouse: Kidz at the Beach

■ Sharon Nicholes: Cannonvale Kidz Early Learning Centre

■ Michelle Guy: Giggle N Grow FDC – Mandalay

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ROCKHAMPTON

■ Leash Edwards from Rockhampton Grammar Early Learning, The Range

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GLADSTONE

■ Emma-Lee Cocking: Goodstart Early Learning – Toolooa St

■ Paula Masters: Goodstart Early Learning Calliope

■ Sara Waller: Green Leaves Forest Springs

■ Renee Pungar: Port City Kids and Olivia Lester: C&K Clinton

■ Lora Smith: C&K Clinton, Kelly: C&K Clinton, Tara Bradshaw: Community Kids Clinton and Melissa Armour (Branford): Goodstart Early Learning Calliope

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BUNDABERG

■ Miss Macy: Grow Early Education

■ Miss Bec: Acorn East and Miss Tasma: Grow Early Education

■ Miss Jodie: Bears and Books

■ Miss Bree: St Luke’s Anglican Early Learning Centre

■ Miss Anita: Coral Coast Early Education

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BURNETT

■ Kirby: Kingaroy Early Learning Centre

■ Nicole Dowers: Kingaroy Kindergarten and Glenys Howkins: Peanut Kids Kindy & After School Care

■ Amanda Dennien: C&K Murgon Kindy

■ Teresa Heim: Little Peanuts Early Learning Centre, Hermie Coborn: Goodstart Early Learning Kingaroy, Rose Hansen: Goodstart Early Learning Kingaroy and Ashley Kinsella: Bee Me Early Learners – Murgon

■ Stephanie Kirkland: First Years Early Learning – Blackbutt, Lilly Tara Walker: Mother Kate’s Early Learning Centre and Aymie Pascoe (Daniel): SBCCC Kindergarten

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GYMPIE

■ Heidi Webb: Parkside Early Learning Centre

■ Jessica Bell: Kids Bizz Early Education Centre

■ Jo Robinson: Busy Bees, Lissa Dooley: Goodstart Early Learning Jones Hill and Jenni Stokes: Kids Bizz Early Education Centre

■ Loren Marshall: Goodstart Early Learning Gympie, Kay Leavey: Goodstart Early Learning Jones Hill, Ashlie Peacock: Goomboorian Playalong Activity Centre, Heidi Wilbraham: Kids on Cambridge Family Day Care and Kylie Wheeler: Kitiwah Place Early Learning Centre

■ Elke Zischke, Goodstart Early Learning Jones Hill

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SUNSHINE COAST

■ Miss Cherry – Goodstart Early Learning Little Mountain

■ Miss Katie – Goodstart Early Learning Little Mountain

■ Miss Jill – Goodstart Early Learning Little Mountain

■ Niveke Edwards – Mooloolaba OSHC

■ Lauren Poppleton – Green Leaves Oceanside

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CAIRNS

■ Pepptua Reuben at MacKillop Catholic Early Learning and Care

■ Thelma at Miss Lolly’s in Edmonton

■ Ann-Marie Innes at Junior World Bentley Park

■ Shane Hughes at Marlin Coast Family Daycare

■ Rachel Lauren at Child’s World Early Learning Centre and Nikki Simshauser at Little World Early Learning Centre

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GOLD COAST

■ Bec from Kool Kids Ashmore, Ashmore

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BRISBANE

■ Ashwini – C&K Kindergarten, Salisbury

■ Kirra – Habitat Early Learning, Nundah and Jessica D – Habitat Early Learning, Ferny Grove

■ Mr Tri – Little Ducks Childcare, Annerley

■ Katie R – Mother Duck Childcare, Carindale

■ Kylie P – Goodstart Early Learning, Woodford

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TOWNSVILLE

■ Taylah Draper: Milestones Early Learning Cranbrook educator

■ Lauren Edwards from Mary Mckillop Osch Good Shepherd School, Rasmussen

■ Shaleise Becker from Little Zebra Mount Louisa, Mount Louisa

■ Anita Bolton from Riverview Playcentre, Mount Louisa

■ Melissa Laundess from Milestones The Lakes, West End

■ Teia Manis from Imagine Childcare And Kindergarten West End, Rasmussen

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Originally published as Qld’s best childcare educator revealed, with Bundaberg winner