Praise for one-stop learning

Work starts on $7.5m centre Kudos for manning Outpost

WORK has begun at Ocean Grove on a new centre that the Government says will revolutionise how children learn and develop.

The $7.5 million project on Shell Rd is two years from completion.

But the City of Greater Geelong and the State Government are already singing the praises of one of the region’s first one- stop childcare centres.

Others are due in Barwon Heads, Grovedale, and Leopold.

But some parents fear centralised children’s services could mean shared funding, and therefore less cash being spent per child.

State Minister for Children and Early Childhood Development Wendy Lovell said the centre — near Bellarine Secondary College, Surfside Primary School and Our Lady Star of the Sea — would complete an education precinct.

‘‘The Ocean Grove Integrated Children’s Centre will be a onestop shop for early childhood development and education, with a kindergarten, maternal and child health and early childhood intervention services, long day care, and other family support programs,’’ Ms Lovell said.

‘‘ Providing children with the best health care and education at a young age has a lasting impact on their development, ability, and willingness to learn.’’

Western Victoria MLC David Koch said the State Government and local government had co-operated to help deliver state- of- the- art children’s services, particularly in growth areas such as Ocean Grove.

Geelong council contributed most of the funding, the State Government providing a $1 million shortfall.

Another $1 million will go to the Barwon Heads children’s hub. Grovedale Early Learning Hub will get $2 million and the Leopold Community and Children’s Centre will receive $1.5 million. GEELONGvolunteer Paul Kimber, pictured, has been acknowledged at the Regional Achievement and Community Awards for his tireless charity work.

Mr Kimber, 70, won the Medibank Healthy Participation Award in Bendigo on Saturday night for his 17 years of service at The Outpost, a Geelong outreach and meals service.

‘‘I was quite shocked when they called my name, but I soon got over it,’’ he said.

‘‘It was great to see so many people in the country doing special things to help others. It was an interesting night, and a very happy one indeed.’’

Mr Kimber said he volunteered about 40 hours a week, but was constantly on call for those in need.

‘‘It’s something that becomes a bit of an obsession, because the clients become your friends, and you really do your very best to keep them on track,’’ he said.

The Outpost serves about 24,000 meals a year to the homeless and the poor, and also provides clothes, sleeping bags and hygiene products.