Bendigo Weekly 940

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BendigoWeekly www.bendigoweekly.com.au

ISSUE 940 FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2015

Blues take a new beat

NEXT weekend the 2015 Bendigo Blues and Roots Music Festival boasts a new crop of fresh talent proving youth is no barrier to producing solid blues. The Weekly’s four-page liftout starts on Page 25 with more stories on Page 37.

CARE SCARE GAOL BLUES: Musos and supporters at the Ulumbarra Theatre. The venue will be hosting an event on Saturday evening. Photo: ANDREW PERRYMAN

By LAURA HURLEY

A BENDIGO councillor is preparing to launch a last ditch attempt to stave off changes to occasional childcare out of concern for working families and their jobs. As many as 28 occasional childcare spots could be lost in Bendigo with the council opting to transition the Bendigo Occasional Child Care Centre to a long care centre within months.

Change hits short-term childcare

The Weekly understands about seven of the 35 day care spots available will remain occasional care spots, while the rest will be transitioned to more permanent long care places. A petition calling for council to reconsider its decision to diminish the amount of occasional care

spots will be tabled at next Wednesday night’s City of Greater Bendigo council meeting amid concerns the reduction in places could force young mothers out of casual and shift work. Councillor Helen Leach said she believed the reduction of occasional childcare places could lead to “crisis”

Financial future bright – Page 3

in childcare in Bendigo. “I’m disappointed that there will be a severe shortage of occasional childcare places in Bendigo,” Cr Leach said. “I would imagine it could be a crisis, and at least much more difficult for a parent finding casual work or

making an appointment.” Cr Leach said while she believed childcare was in the realm of private enterprise, it was council’s duty to step in if there is a perceived gap in the market. “I would have to say that this present situation that we find ourselves in with occasional childcare… certainly does not lend credibility to the Municipal Early Years Plan and the claim that Bendigo is a child friendly city,” she said. Continued Page 5

56-page property guide inside

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