ALLORA Community Kindergarten celebrates its 30th year in education this year, with long-serving assistant Rowena Doherty on board at the facility for nearly as long.

Having initially lived in the house for six years while it was still a principal's house in Warwick St, Mrs Doherty has been at the Gordon St kindy for 28 years, travelling from Highfields every day.

"The house was moved to Gordon St from the state school when the library was built in mid 1986 and the hospital board had bought this block of land," she said.

"A few community members felt the need for a centre for mothers and young kids to meet and the hospital board offered to establish the community kindy here, and doors opened in October 1986.

"It's a long way to drive but it's worth it to work in this community."

Mrs Doherty said the kindy initially only opened a total of nine hours a week, funded entirely by fees and donations.

She began volunteering as a teacher's assistant in 1988 and was employed full-time a year later when the kindy received government funding through C&K.

"For me the most rewarding part of working here is seeing the benefits the children gain from attending kindy and the satisfaction of seeing them grow and preparing them for Prep," Mrs Doherty said.

"I get to interact with families and the community and the support from them and service groups is great.

"I'm now on to a second generation, with people I've taught bringing in their kids.

"I had a dad say 'you haven't changed a bit' - he was so excited his little boy had the same kindy teacher.

"I've seen a lot of changes from very humble beginnings but I still feel at home here - I think I'm the luckiest person in the world."