FROM the remote sheep station of Kinross, it takes mum-of-two Jessica Cullinan more than two hours to drive her two sons into Mildura for early childhood activities.
Seven-month-old James and two-year-old Toby love living on the farm, but without other kids around they miss out on “social skills and chatting”, she said.
There is no preschool in the nearby town of Pooncarie, so Ms Cullinan has no other option but to make the long drive. But together with a group of friends and mothers, she could be about to change that.
Pooncarie, just 20km down the road from Ms Cullinan’s home, has had a mini baby boom over the last few years.
“It must be the Pooncarie water,” Ms Cullinan joked.
In her friendship circle there are now around 10 kids under the age of four, she said, compared to just a handful a few years ago. The higher number of kids mean the town could qualify for funding to set up a preschool.
The mothers’ group she is part of met with the NSW Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell at the Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association Annual Conference in Hay this week, and are hoping a preschool might be up and running by the end of the year.
Being able to take her two kids to preschool would mean a lot to her young family, she said.
“On busy days I can drop (the kids) off, and go out in the paddock with my partner Ben to help with sheep work and lamb marking,” she said. “It would mean a lot of Ben to get the help.”
The principal of the local primary school, Alison King, is supportive of the initiative. There is a building on the school grounds that could be used for the preschool, she said, “and there’s not that much that would have to be done to meet regulation.”
Having the preschool on the school grounds would have other benefits as well.
“I’ve seen that model work in other schools with the preschool space on site,” she said.
“The kids would know what the school looks like and be familiar with it. And it would allow me to get to know the kids before they start school, because I could pop in and see them.”
Toby, whose closest friends live about 20km away, gets a bit bored with his toys at home, Ms Cullinan said. Having a preschool he could join a few days a week would make a “big difference” to his development, and to the young family.
NSW minister for education Sarah Mitchell said she will be organising a meeting with Pooncarie parents and the Department of Education “to see what options we can look at for the the Pooncarie community”.
“I look forward to updating parents and the broader community on this matter,” she said.
“We currently support local parents holding playgroup style events using local school facilities,” Ms Mitchell said. “This option is available under a Community Use of Schools agreement.”
“In addition, the Start Strong Capital Works Grants Program improves access to preschools by creating additional community preschool places in areas of need and demand across the state. Not for profit organisations can apply for funding to build a new community preschool, renovate or extend a community preschool, or purchase a vehicle for an existing mobile preschool.”
