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Vol 2 No 12 THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 2022 ISSN 2653-1550
John’s salute from the chief COUNTRY Fire Authority Chief Officer John Heffernan on Friday night presented veteran fireman John Carroll with his 70-year medal. The CFA boss said that no matter where he had been in Victoria at the time, he had been determined to join the Pyramid Hill brigade in honouring John’s seven decades as a local fire brigade volunteer. Chief Officer Heffernan said: “I was going to be here.” The 70-year medal for John, who is a life member of the brigade and was Loddon Shire’s citizen of the year in 2002, was the highlight of Friday evening’s dinner when CFA service awards were presented to members.
STILL WAITING STORY, PICTURES - PAGE 6
A LODDON business has been waiting five months for word on its bid to open a child care centre.
Mark Klose and Amy Sturman say the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority is still to approve their application for the Boort centre. The pair wants to open the centre in Godfrey Street as one solution to the Loddon’s child care crisis. Mr Klose said he believed all documents required for registration to be considered had now
Congratulations for 70-year veteran fireman John Carroll from CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan. LH PHOTO
CARE CENTRE APPLICATION SITS IN QUEUE FIVE MONTHS
been lodged with the authority. “It’s been five months since we started and hopefully, now, we are heading into the home stretch,” he said. The pair had planned to open the centre in February but Mr Klose said every request for information during the process had given the authority “another 60 days to respond”. Federal member for Mallee
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Anne Webster said the Victorian Department of Education and Training was responsible for assessing applications. “The Australian Government is streamlining current dual application and approval processes so that prospective children’s education and care providers can lodge a single application for approval that is concurrently assessed by the Australian Govern-
ment and the relevant state or territory regulator,” she said. “Sadly the child care shortage in Boort is not a unique situation for regional Australia. I’ve raised this issue with the minister to see how we can ensure more service accessibility for young families in towns like Boort and across Mallee.” “I have been fighting hard in the child care space throughout Mallee as there are several communities including Wedderburn and Boort, who have all spoken with me about their need for child care.” Dr Webster said the
new Community Child Care Fund grant stream provided hope and guidelines that recognise the unique circumstances in regional communities. Independent Mallee candidate Sophie Baldwin said there must be an end to buck-passing between federal and state governments on child care processes. Wedderburn College expects its out of school hours care program will start next term. Child care has been named the Loddon Shire’s No 1 federal and state election wish list item.
BALDWIN ON CHILD CARE - PAGE 4