Citykids Co-operative Childcare Centre :[Two T-shirts. 1984]

Two t-shirts to fit preschool children:

1. Yellow, with text: Citykids Co-operative Childcare Centre (mid-1984)

2. White, with adhered felt text: Save my nursery (Produced for Citizens' Day Nursery, mid 1984)

The white t-shirt with "Save my nursery" on it, was produced in mid-1984 when the Citizens' Day Nursery in Vivian Street was threated with closure. This particular t-shirt belonged to Joanne Ruscoe's son Ben Ruscoe who wore it during filming by TVNZ News.

The Citizens' Day Nursery was closed down in December 1984, but about half of the parents stayed, together with the staff. With the help of the Wellnigton community and the government, they moved into a house in Pipitea Street and set up the City Kids Co-operative Childcare Centre. The yellow t-shirt was prepared at this time. For one year the centre operated at the Pipitea Street house. However at the end of 1985 the government who owned the house required it for other purposes, and the Centre bought their own house at 21 Tinakori Road, Thorndon. In 2006, the Centre was still operating in this house.

Further material relating to the closure of the Citizen's Day Nursery, and the setting up of Citykids Co-Operative Childcare Centre is held at: MS-Group-0601 and PA1-q-614.

Quantity: 2 t-shirts.

Physical Description: One white and one yellow t-shirt of stretch cotton fabric, sizes varying around 420 x 400 mm.

Provenance: Donated by Ms Rachel Brown, Wellington, in 2006.