Hearts and hands together: Eugowra digs deep to rebuild children's centre

The community has rallied as fundraising to rebuild the Eugowra Children's Community Centre continues. More than 170 people dug deep at a trivia night, which was overwhelmingly supported with generous auction items, for the centre. Eugowra's only childcare centre was destroyed in the November 2022 floods and the NSW Government has announced funding to build a new pre-school, it's the long day care room that still needs to be fully funded. It's already had one incredible sponsorship with Evolution Mining earlier this year announcing $400,000 towards the rebuild. The community itself is now backing the cause, as the centre continues to operate out of temporary grounds on the perimeter of the Eugowra showground. ECCC director Raewyn Molloy expressed her thanks to everyone who has offered support: all those who sponsored and donated towards the trivia night, all those who attended and the volunteers who made it all happen. Cabonne Council has given the go-ahead for work on the new centre, on showground land listed as 21 Noble Street, to begin, approving the development application at their August meeting. The new permanent centre proposes to cater for 75 preschoolers and 45 long day care places, providing employment for 15 staff. The development will be a single-storey centre with three preschool rooms and one long day care room, with the landscaping around it including playground areas and a chicken coop. A 39-space carpark will include staff parking, three accessible parking spaces and six drop-off zone spaces. Cabonne Council staff recommended approval of the application to councillors, explaining it caters for the increase in demand for early childhood care due to the changing demographics of Eugowra, being a new and emerging younger population and working age group. "Thanks to the local community and surrounding areas for all your support, the new centre will support the community of Eugowra well into the future ensuring children do have access to early education and care, as the early years are critical," Mrs Molloy said. Fundraising for the long day care room will continue - keep a look out for the centre's next efforts in the near future.