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Writer's pictureTG's Child Care

Under the warm wings of our Mother Hen - Meg Barnden-Hyde

Updated: Oct 7

Meg's Journey with TG's Child Care


Meg Barnden-Hyde has a special warm quality that draws people to her, so it's not surprising she has earned herself the affectionate term of Mother Hen at TG's Child Care. You just want to sit under her warm wings because that's where you are loved and grow best.


Meg Barnden-Hyde, State Manager
Meg Barnden-Hyde, State Manager

Meg has been working for TG's Child Care since 2009 and she first started at TG's Uralla. Proudly Uralla-born-and-bred, what some may not know or remember is that Meg actually started at TG's not as State or Centre Manager, or Educator but as Parent!


That was how Meg came to know TG's so well and to be so completely convinced of the TG's Way and philosophy of Playing is Learning for Life, that even when her children graduated, she herself didn't want to! So the next logical thing to do was to simply march up to Gayle Kee with her bright, honest, cheerful smile and tell her confidently that she wanted to work with her at TG's!


Meg's personal TG's journey has taken her from parent to Educator to team leader to Centre Manager and now she oversees 5 centres across NSW, including Armidale, Uralla, Wauchope (Hastings St, High St and Riverbreeze) and she supports the QLD centre in Urangan. She has a staff of 160 Educators across all six centres under her expansive wings. It does leave one incredibly bowled over at her sheer commitment, dedication and clearly, passion for what she does.


For Meg, TG's is an industry leader in child care and having experienced for herself first-hand how TG's made a difference in her children's early years and the kind of quality care and education we have, she knows each child is supported through their growth and learning through play. She is proud to be contributing her part to this and to paddle this amazing canoe with so many other equally passionate and dedicated Educators.


It has often been said that TG's is an extended family for the children and the Educators, and many say it's their home away from home, so much so that going to TG's does not feel like work. It feels like home! It's the whole inclusiveness of the TG's Way that makes each child feel seen and loved, every Educator has their voice heard and valued, families are respected and involved in their children's learning journeys, and even the communities are welcomed to be a part of TG's.


Finding her vocation


It's not just because TG's is a great place to be for Educators that Meg has stayed so consistently here.


It's also because she has found her vocation and calling. She knows exactly what she wants to do and where she wants to be. Not everyone is lucky to have that in their career, and it really shows when someone has it. For TG's Mother Hen, each child's gifts are constantly being nurtured and it's amazing for her to see the light and sparkle in their eyes when they discover their own gifts. It's an incredible moment she totally lives for and is a constant motivator for her at work.


Meg's clear focus and conviction was evident from the very beginning. She has always loved interacting with young children. Becoming a pre-school teacher was her dream and so she has been living her dream for the past 13 years at TG's! Being a part of the children's learning journeys is an amazing gift for Meg.


This clarity, boldness and confidence is what makes this Mother Hen feel so dependable and safe to be with. You trust her instinctively that she knows what to do and that helps give children and Educators a sense of security in taking their next bold step forward.


The other side of our Mother Hen


So what is TG's beloved Mother Hen like outside of TG´s and when she's not at work?


Meg loves the town she grew up in. Uralla is a warm and friendly place rich in colonial gold rush history, indigenous heritage as well as delicious artisanal food and wineries. What our Mother Hen loves to do at the weekends is to hang out with friends over a nice cup of coffee in a local café (where everyone knows everyone!) and simply relax with good company and have a good laugh with old friends. She also loves getting creative with arts and crafts, which is not surprising given all the fun activities she has been doing with the children at TG´s. Given New England's amazing range of fine food and wine, Meg loves trying culinary delights with family and friends as a special treat for the week. She delights in the simple joys of life, like reading a book or simply having a quiet moment to centre herself.


Our Mother Hen also needs care and support, and for Meg, she can count on her supportive, fun loving and talented family, and her brood of three chicks are fully-grown and adults, and she's so proud of Travis, Maddison and Amber who all grew up through Playing is Learning for Life. Meg's children have always been very sporty and she spent many years watching them train and take part in sports and achieve sporting milestones. Whether it's her own children or TG's children or her Educators, she always shares in her pride when they tackle something challenging or discover the joy of overcoming something difficult.


And here we have a little treat to share about our Mother Hen! These are some fun facts about Meg you may not know about, and you can ask her about them the next time you see her! She may blush a little but we know she'll be happy to share as well!

  • Our Mother Hen can do the splits! Yes, it's true! It's one of her hidden talents, so you may have to be patient and wait to catch her doing it!

  • Her celebrity crush is Oprah. If you want to get our Mother Hen excited talking about something, this is it! Go Oprah!

  • Do you know what colour sparks joy for our Mother Hen? Lime green! That's her favourite colour because it has a powerful feeling to it and just simply, happy!

  • And this is our favourite - did you know that Meg's sister-in-law married her brother because she wanted to be Meg's best friend? We want to be our Mother Hen´s best friends too!

  • 'Humble and Kind' by Tim McGraw is our Mother Hen's favourite song of all time. So if you start humming it, you'll be sure Meg will start singing along soon!

  • Our Mother Hen's dream is to buy a beach house one day, live like a lady and enjoy all that life has to offer!

Leading the brood


A natural leader, Meg is fostering a culture of Educators who respect all children and uphold the rights of a child. Meg is a Mother Hen not just to the children but also to the Educators. She loves the people she works with, and even the Mother Hen knows she is learning every day from the children, who are the True Experts of Playing is Learning for Life!


Meg as Mother Hen is very proud of her brood of Educators, and Meg sets the standard for high professionalism for her team and all they do. She observes and notices each Educator's unique gifts, and she nurtures them as she knows their gifts can make a difference to the children and families.


A highly appreciated value at TG's is how everyone matters, and everyone has a voice that is heard.


Meg is always available and on hand to encourage each Educator reach their fullest potential. She herself is a supportive role model. Never short of creative ideas, Meg is ready to get down and play and have fun with the children, and at the drop of a hat, she can also be the rock solid secure presence that her Educators turn to for guidance.


Meg knows that she is where she is today because she herself found a wonderfully encouraging Mother Hen in Gayle when she first started. She always looks back every year and is amazed at how she has been a part of the TG´s Family after all these years. Gayle helped Meg to develop her professional career, and TG´s is very respectful of the whole concept of family so even as Educators grow professionally, it's never at the expense of family. There's always a healthy balance between one's professional and personal life at TG´s. Educators are quick to step in. and support each other, if one is busy studying for a diploma or has a family issue to attend to. Because of what she has been given and gifted from Gayle, it's a natural role for Meg to take on as Mother Hen to the next generation of Educators. It's her way of P(l)aying it Forward, it's her responsibility to give back her knowledge and unique gifts to her Educators.




TG's is a garden


In many ways, TG's beautiful award-winning gardens is really the entire TG's learning space. The whole TG's space is in itself a garden where Educators lovingly respect and support each other and their team. The way Meg sees it, they are all different flowers in the same garden, and this incredible variety of differences and diversity is what makes TG's thrive. It makes TG's a beautiful place to work. No flower / Educator is forced to twist or grow in unnatural ways. TG's is flexible in accommodating to what each Educator needs, to their own individual situations and professional journeys.


What is lovely is, our Mother Hen dreams of having a field of beautiful flowers of every single colour and variety on her future beach house. Meanwhile, Meg has her field of amazing Educators that she is growing, tending to and taking care of so they bloom and the Educators in turn, pay it forward by becoming little Mother Hens to the children under their wings.


Experience the joy of Playing is Learning for Life as an Educator! Do you have what it takes to be a TG's Educator? Learn more here.




TG's Child Care locations and contact details:


Urangan QLD

+61 (07) 4184 2282 | urangan@tgschildcare.com.au

61 Miller St, Urangan, QLD 4655


Armidale NSW

+61 (02) 6772 7810 | armidale@tgschildcare.com.au

11 Samuelson Crescent, Armidale NSW 2350


Uralla NSW

+61 (02) 6778 3369 | uralla@tgschildcare.com.au

23B John St, Uralla NSW 2358


Wauchope - Hastings St NSW

33B Hastings St, Wauchope NSW 2446


Wauchope - High St NSW

+61 (02) 6585 3331 | HighStreet@tgschildcare.com.au

223A High St, Wauchope NSW 2446


Wauchope - Riverbreeze NSW

+61 (02) 6585 2981 | riverbreeze@tgschildcare.com.au

3 Riverbreeze Drive, Wauchope NSW 2446

 

Book a Play Date with TG's Child Care at Urangan, QLD

 

About TG's Child Care

As one of Australia's leading early learning Preschool and Long Day Care providers, TG's Child Care is dedicated to its philosophy of “Quality Lifelong Learning, where Playing is Learning for Life.” Children attending TG's Child Care are encouraged to experience a love and joy of learning throughout their time there and are equipped with skills and tools to continue their personal growth long after they’ve left.



At TG's, we acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we are located, the people of the Anaiwan nation and extend that acknowledgement to elders past and present and all Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people. 

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