I WRITE on behalf of the Anglican Mothers Union of Australia – Cohuna Branch and wish to enquire if there are plans to have a childcare centre in Cohuna and if so, when the building for such a facility might be taking place? We trust funding is available for such a resource.
We are an active group, part of the Anglican Church of Australia, and are based in Cohuna.
Our concern and focus is on supporting marriage and family life.
We uphold Christ’s teaching on the nature of marriage and our aims include promoting conditions in society favourable to stable family life and the protection of children.
We also aim to help those whose family life has met with adversity.
Several families in Cohuna and district are disadvantaged in gaining employment due to the lack of suitable childcare.
Some parents even drive to other towns in the area for childcare, and then return to Cohuna to work and then repeat this travelling at the end of the day, just so they can follow their career paths, and contribute to the financial needs of their families.
This extra travel, and extension of time taken just so they can work, involves extra costs and puts additional strain on their health, and indirectly on their relationships.
Not all workers have the assistance of extended family or friends to help out with child care.
Cohuna is seen by some to have suffered due to the changes in planning of water distribution and the reduced number of farmers operating in our area.
The resultant reduction in numbers of children attending our schools and the flow-on effect with our sporting clubs and the financial viability of our business houses as well as the lack of light industry which would employ more staff, we feel, is in part, due to the lack of suitable child care.
We respectfully suggest that if there was suitable childcare available, more people might be attracted to set up some light industry and businesses in our area, knowing there would be people interested in seeking employment.
We respectfully ask that you consider the matters we have raised in this letter, and look forward to your reply.
Shirley Bruns
Cohuna
