MITCHELL Shire Council leaders and Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes celebrated the opening of the Marie Williams Kilmore Family and Children’s Centre last month.
The project incorporates the pre-existing Marie Williams Kindergarten and Kilmore Maternal and Child Health Centre into one unified centre.
As part of the project two new early learning rooms were added to the centre, as well as an additional play space and shared entrances for families and staff.
The centre now comprises four sessional kindergarten rooms, two associated play spaces, a connected maternal and child health consultation suite, program rooms and parent meeting spaces, and a staff lounge and office.
Mitchell Shire Council Mayor Bill Chisholm said works on the centre did not disrupt ongoing services.
Kindergarten children were included in the project and given opportunities to provide feedback on the construction as part of their learning.
Cr Chisholm said the redevelopment would help the growing Kilmore community access family services in one location, and provide opportunities to embrace the rollout of the Federal Government’s three-year-old kindergarten program.
“Facilities like these are so crucial for people living in our community – and those who are about to arrive,” he said.
“We are a growing shire and part of our challenge is making sure the education needs of our population are met. This project will go a long way to supporting our growing communities.
“To be able to assist in these projects is something we take great pride in. Thank you to the Victorian Government for providing much-needed funding support.”
The $3.36 million upgrade was funded with $1.86 million from the State Government’s Building Blocks Grants, $1.1 million from the State Government’s Growing Suburbs Fund and $394,000 from council.
Ms Symes said greater access to chidcare and early education had a profound impact on the development of children’s brains, with 90 per cent of brain development occurring before the age of five.
“An upgraded and expanded Marie Williams will mean children living in Kilmore will not only get the best start to life at kinder, but their transition to school will be made that much easier,” she said.
“We know families are struggling with the cost of living and free kinder will help make sure no child misses out on those vital early years.”
