Closure shocks parents

Oakey childcare centre closes

THE sudden closure of an Oakey childcare centre has left 65 families scrambling to find new last-minute care.

Cuddly Bears Children’s Centre in Oakey closed on Wednesday afternoon, with parents and staff only informed at 3pm that day.

Accountancy firm Hall Chadwick Chartered Accountants announced the news in a letter sent to parents.

“Regrettably, for a number of reasons, the company’s service is no longer a viable financial proposition and despite the director’s efforts to improve to position, the company has no other option but to close the business,” the letter said.

One parent who contacted The Chronicle said she was disgusted with how the situation had played out.

“To be receiving a phone call at 5.01pm informing me that I would need to find alternative care for my three children is such poor business form,” the parent said.

“I cannot compute how this has impacted mine and many other families.”

Employee Gabrielle Frelek said she was devastated.

“I found out the centre was closing when a parent called me to ask what was going on. She had received an email at 3pm saying that Cuddly Bears was closing down at 6pm that same day,” Ms Frelek said.

“I’ve tried to contact the centre management, but they’ve referred me to liquidators. The liquidators say they don’t know anything about it.

“We don’t know how much in entitlements we’re owed, and we can’t even access the centre to collect belongings.”

When contacted by The Chronicle a spokeswoman for the centre said she could not comment due to confidentiality reasons, but a Facebook post by the businesses said it was a “sad day for Oakey”.

Liquidation firm Mcleod and Partners, who were named on the letter, said it was unaware of the case.