Steph Cooke MP has rallied Gooloogong families to push for solutions. Photo: Supplied.
Gooloogong families say they are being forced to cut back work, drive long distances and even send their children to schools in other towns because the village still lacks a preschool and before- and after-school care.
The local P&C says families have spent three years working with the NSW Government to secure a childcare solution, but are yet to receive a clear commitment or outcome.
Local parent Marissa Tedder said the lack of childcare had already affected her ability to work.
“I recently had to go to my employer of eight years and say to them, I actually cannot continue working here because I can’t do the daily travel, and I can’t do the hours that you require me to do due to the lack of daycare,” Ms Tedder said.
She said Gooloogong offered an ideal lifestyle for young families, but was missing essential services.
“We have everything we need right here, and we can make it successful, if we’re allowed to,” she said.
Fourth-generation local farmer Phillip Gray said reliable childcare and after-school care were essential if families were to remain in the community.
“I’ve been in the community all my life, brought up here, went to school here,” Mr Gray said.
“It was challenging to have kids at school and at daycare [in another town], and then with work to try and fit it all in. In regard to dropping the kids off, there’s always a time constraint to be able to get back and finish off the jobs you had planned for the day.”
Mr Gray said the school and wider community were central to the town’s future.
“We want the kids to be part of that community,” he said.
“It’s a nice place to live in. People are nice. Opportunities are here, so it’s a great spot.”
Gooloogong Public School P&C president Emma Marr said families had spent years working constructively with the Department of Education to find a solution that would support both preschool-aged children and school students.
“What we’re after is a sustainable model,” Ms Marr said.
“We’ve really been trying to work with the department in trying to achieve a facility that provides care for those children who are not yet at school, as well as after-school care for school-aged children.”
She said the ongoing uncertainty was taking a toll on families and threatening enrolments at the local school.
“Just last week, we had an inquiry from a family for enrolment to the school, and because we don’t have after-school care, they’ve now gone to Cowra,” she said.
“We need the department to stop stringing this along. Our families are exhausted.”
Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said the community had waited long enough for answers.
“What they’re looking for is really simple and straightforward,” Ms Cooke said.
“They need a preschool and before- and after-school care. It’s not rocket science, and quite frankly, this community deserves better.”
Ms Cooke said families were deeply concerned about the long-term future of Gooloogong Public School if support services were not delivered.
“Not too far from here, we’ve seen two schools close in the last 18 months. It is not unreasonable that the community here would be very concerned about the future of their own school,” she said.
“What we’re seeing at the moment is parents having to pull their kids out of school or not enrol them to begin with, because they end up taking their child to a larger centre that meets the working requirements of their parents.”
Ms Cooke said the community had already demonstrated its willingness to work together and deserved support from the government.
“Small communities matter, and so do the schools that make up the beating heart of these communities,” Ms Cooke said.
“This community has got solutions. They’re very self-sufficient. All they need is a green light from the government to stand up this level of care that they want to offer their own children.”
Original Article published by Oliver Jacques on Region Riverina.
