Hughenden Extends Childcare - November 2009
The official opening of the Early Childhood Centre’s new extension was a day for celebration for the Hughenden community.
The Centre’s significant extension now allows a five day a week childcare service, whilst maintaining the two day a week kindergarten service. The Centre is now licensed for 41 children for childcare and 20 children for kindergarten.
With the extension operating since September, the new facilitates have already seen attendance grow from 10 to 15 full time children per week. The Centre’s president Leanne Rogers said, “The numbers justify using the two rooms now at least four days per week and the increase we have had in only nine weeks proves that Hughenden really did need this service.”
Mike Palmer from Department of Employment Education and Workplace Relations visited Hughenden for the official opening. He congratulated the town on establishing a viable, sustainable and vital childcare service that is the envy of many western Queensland communities. He complemented the work of President Leanne Rogers for her tenacity in seeking and securing funds for the project.
A total of $502,536 has been spent to get the Centre to where it is today, with Mike Palmer’s department providing the bulk of that money ($459,739). Other funding has been provided by the Gambling Community Benefit Fund, Department of Education Crèche and Kindergarten Assistance Scheme and of course local fundraising.
In his welcoming speech, Flinders Shire Council Mayor Brendan McNamara thanked all the past and present committees for their contribution to the project over the past four years. He also thanked the parents and staff involved in fundraising efforts to benefit the Centre. “Without the support of the committee, staff and parents the Centre could not provide the nice new resources you see here today” said Mayor McNamara.
The Centre is also Child Care Benefit (CCB) Registered which enables parents to claim a subsidy from Centrelink on their childcare fees which previously they were not eligible for as the Centre did not run five-day-a-week childcare.
