Vol. 29 No. 10
A FREE PUBLICATION FROM YOUR LOCAL RADIO STATIONS 3WM AND MIXXFM
Wednesday, September 2, 2026
THE MIGHTY WEST: With the Western Bulldogs to play the Adelaide Crows in an elimination final on Saturday night, towns across the region are set to become stop-off points for thousands of AFL fans driving to and from South Australia. Horsham – the home town of Bulldogs star Joel Freijah – is encouraging travellers to stop, rest and support businesses in the rural city. Pictured are Western Bulldogs fans Horsham Councillor Dean O’Loughlin, ACE Radio’s Kayla Wilson and Joel Freijah’s dad Gabi getting in the red, white and blue spirit. Story, page 3. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER
Mayor: Time to deliver BY BRONWYN HASTINGS
Y
arriambiack Shire Mayor Andrew McLean and Member for Mildura Jade Benham are demanding the State Government deliver a solution to Hopetoun’s early years services’ ‘crisis’.
Following the closure of the Hopetoun childcare service in April 2024 due to provider Uniting Vic Tas’ workforce shortages, the council worked with Emerge Early Years Services to establish a sustainable integrated model that would deliver both kindergarten and long daycare services from the one facility. Kindergarten services transitioned to Emerge by 2025, with staff successfully recruited to restart childcare in 2026. But the centre closed after a burst water pipe caused structural
damage and mould, discovered in May last year. Cr McLean said the situation was ‘completely unacceptable’ and a failure of government to properly support rural communities. “For more than two years, Hopetoun families have been without a childcare service, and now they are being told they could wait another two years before a permanent early years’ facility is available. That is simply unacceptable,” he said. “Rural families deserve access to the same essential services as metropolitan communities. The Victorian government cannot continue to talk about supporting regional Victoria while allowing communities like Hopetoun to go without the basic infrastructure needed to support children and working families.”
Engineering assessments confirmed the site required extensive remediation and stabilisation works. While kindergarten programs have temporarily relocated to Hopetoun Senior Citizens Building, Cr McLean said the shared arrangement was far from ideal, and still left the town without a childcare service. He said the council was deeply disappointed to learn the Department of Education had advised there were no relocatable facilities available and that investment in an alternative solution was not currently under consideration. “Frankly, I am outraged that a rural community can be left in this position,” he said. “It is unacceptable that our children, teachers and educators are expected to operate a kindergarten program from the senior citizens’ building for
up to two years. While the Department of Education may see this as a temporary solution, it simply shifts the problem onto another valued community group. “Our senior citizens also deserve better than having their facility used as a long-term substitute for proper early years infrastructure. “The Victorian government’s Best Start, Best Life reforms promise better access to early childhood education and care, yet our families are being told to wait years for a solution. That is not equity, and it is not good enough.” Ms Benham, whose electorate extends south to Hopetoun, raised the matter in Parliament last week, asking Children’s Minister Lizzie Blandthorn for a solution to the escalating early years crisis facing Hopetoun families.
“Twenty-seven children are enrolled in kindergarten this year, while 15 families have expressed interest in childcare,” she said. “Kindergarten is now operating from the senior citizens building, which is not fit for purpose, not safe and displaces older residents as well. “This temporary arrangement cannot accommodate the childcare. The Department of Education has advised that no relocatable building is available and that a $2.5-million rebuild is just not justified – because country kids do not matter. “Well, they do. They have offered funding to make the seniors’ building suitable for kindergarten services, but that displaces our seniors – it is robbing Peter to pay Paul.” Continued page 3
IN THIS ISSUE • Support for renewable transition • One Nation draws crowd • HDFNL juniors awarded Phone: 03 5382 1351 Read it online: www.theweeklyadvertiser.com.au
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