Sunday 19th May, 2013 10am -2pm. After 42 years of caring for our kids, Bardon Kindy farewells the much loved Heather who will be retiring at the end of this year. On hand for the special celebrations will be Triple M Grill Team presenter Pete Timbs as MC, and this year's live auction items include a private dinner party by celebrity chef Ben O'Donaghue and a private footy lesson with league legend Gorden Tallis.

This year the Fair hopes to raise over $20,000 for the not-for-profit Kindergarten that has been an integral part of the local community for over sixty years. The Fair relies completely on donations and support of the local families and business communities to continue to provide an excellent learning environment and to upgrade and maintain its facilities.

To help reach that target will be a plethora of silent and live auctions items which include vouchers to some of Brisbane's best loved restaurants including ARIA, Libertine, Esquire and favourite stores such as Maryon's and Petrol.

Topping the silent auction bill this year will be a private dinner party for up to ten people cooked by one of Australia's best known and respected chefs Ben O'Donaghue, all in your own home. Other items to bid on are a Weber BBQ donated by Saxon Rice, a private football lesson with Gorden Tallis, whale watching tickets and a helicopter ride. All items can be purchased now at a buy now price at www.bardonkindyfair.com.au – spread the word and check it out.

And of course the kids will be entertained with plenty of fun rides, jumping castles, pony rides and petty zoo. There will be a special performance by the Bardon Kindy kids, lucky dips and plenty of opportunities to win amazing prizes all day.

A special room will be set up to commemorate the incredible career of Heather who has enriched the lives of so many Brisbane children during the past 42 years and remarkably, has taught up to three generations of one family.

All are welcome to join in the fun and celebrations and help make the “Farewell Heather” Fair the most memorable Bardon Kindy Fair to date.

My daughter attended Bardon Kindy in 2012 and we couldn't be happier. If you could imagine your ideal kindergarten, a place where kids can be kids, administration staff feel like part of the family, teachers are engaged, interested, friendly and their sole objective is to guide your child into becoming the best person they can be, then this is the Kindy for you!

This kindergarten just gets it right on so many levels. They are professional and follow guidelines, without being bogged down by bureaucracy. They have first class facilities, in 2012 they added a music garden to their existing playground which already included climbing equipment, two cubby houses and a giant sandpit. The Kindergarten curriculum is wonderful and children are exposed to many different experiences during the year, including rotating exhibits from the Queensland Museum, lots of sing songs and piano tunes, yoga movements incorporated into their day, travelling shows such as Under the Sea, Rainforest Experience, drumming, and Bee-Bot robots, to name a few.

Bardon Kindy has limited hours before and after care, again with wonderful staff. My daughter often attended and would tell me off if I picked her up too early! The afternoon session finishes at 4.30 pm, so won't suit everyone but could make all the difference to some families.

They are a very popular kindergarten so get your child's name down as soon as possible (the booking fee is currently $15). But if like me, you move into the area not long before the kindy year, still put your name down as we were fortunate to get a place at the end of the offers. The program operates on a 5 day fortnight, so 3 days one week, 2 days the next, in line with government regulations.

Bardon Kindy have an annual fundraiser called the Bardon Kindy Fair in May, this fair has to be seen to be believed. They even had pony rides last year! Even if you don't have children attending the Kindy, make sure you get along to the fair.

Approximate cost: $700-800 per term