Boost for hills childcare

By CASEY NEILL
SHERBROOKE Family and Children’s Centre reached a major milestone last week, nine years after it was condemned for closure.
Children and Early Childhood Development Minister Wendy Lovell, Monbulk MP James Merlino, Yarra Ranges councillors, council staff, and parents celebrated the opening of the Upwey redevelopment’s first stage on Wednesday 9 May.
The hub’s $7.5 million overhaul will be completed within six months and include a refurbished community hall, 110-place childcare centre, new preschool, new maternal child health centre, and multipurpose rooms for health providers including early childhood intervention services.
It will help to reduce the 150-family waiting list for childcare in Sherbrooke.
Ms Lovell said the centre would bring children’s services together, streamlining access for families and engaging them in the community.
She said it would enable early diagnosis of children’s health and developmental problems and provide children and parents with continuity.
The 2004 council recommendation to close the centre within five years seemed a world away as the bright, open building filled with colourful paintings and toys was unveiled.
Councillors Noel Cliff and Len Cox “put the hand brake” on plans to disband the childcare service and sell the building and parents, including now Lyster Ward councillor Samantha Dunn, rallied to save it for future families.
They formed the Save Our Sherbrooke Children’s Centre (SOSCC) on 3 April 2004 and campaigned relentlessly to save the much-loved council-run, community-based long day care.
“This was a campaign built on chocolate biscuits and red wine,” Cr Dunn said.
“Saving Sherbrooke Children’s Centre was the very reason I ran for council in the first place.”
The corner of Burwood Highway and Mast Gully Road will soon be a one-stop-shop for the shire’s children and family services.
The project received a combined $2.1 million from the State and Federal Governments, and the council has funded the balance. Construction of stage one began in March last year.
The existing childcare centre and preschool remained open during phase one while a new childcare and maternal child health centre was built.
The maternal and child health centre relocated to Upwey South during the construction and the Upwey Hall was temporarily unavailable.
Phase two, due in September, will see extra childcare facilities built, and the final phase will include building a new preschool and renovating the existing Upwey Hall.