Carer’s Cornerby Jenny Oakley

Care Co-ordinator• •

We've  had  a  great  first  half  of  the  year,  star3ng  with  bugs  which  the  children  had  a  great  3me  crea3ng.  Easter  was  a  great  3me  with  easter  egg  hunts,  lots  of  cra=s  and  of  course  a  very  special  visit  from  a  very  special  bunny.  We've  seen  lots  of  changes,  a  digging  patch,  new  blinds,  and  more  colour  added  here  &  there.  A  veggie  patch  is  coming  &  a  garden  bed  from  which  magic  po3ons  can  be  made.  We  look  forward  to  a  great  term  with  Fathers  day  secrets  &  cra=s,  stories  &  songs  about  pets  &  farm  animals,  some  cooking  &  lots  of  fun.  Keep  a  look  out  for  the  photo  board  so  you  can  all  see  what  we  are  geDng  up  to!!!  

Please  name  ALL  clothing  and  shoes.  • Please  have  a  labeling  frenzy!• Check  the  lost  property  tub• Remember  a  pair  of  so=  slippers  • When  signing  your  child,  leave  a  contact  phone  number  every  3me.

If  you  have  any  ques3ons  about  your  child,  our  staff,  or  our  centre  then  please  come  and  see  me.  

Thanks,  Jenny

NewsletterVolume 20 • Term 1, 2 & 3 • July 2012 • 03 9751 0001

info@hillschildcare.org.au • www.hillschildcare.org.au • Facebook

Hills Community Child Care

New All Weather Cafe Blinds• •

Over the school holidays we had our all weather cafe blinds installed - and don’t they look great! A long time coming, they have already made an enormous difference for the children and staff by providing a draft free and dry outside environment during these wet and cold weeks.

Please note - if you are ever requiring entry to the centre and the blinds are down, that access must now be gained from the Olinda Primary side of the building - as pictured.

Thanks to : Funding provided by Bendigo Bank : Montrose Community branch,Steve Hooper of www.shadeliving.com.au and Iain Fraser for installation.

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Bumper Issue!Yes it’s been a long-time since our last newsletter - but that doesn’t mean we haven’t been busy! Read-on for news & updates about...

• New All Weather Cafe Blinds• 2012 Raffle & Winners• New Volunteer Committee• Trivia Night Success

Working Bee : Sunday Aug 12th• •

Please come along & help! 10am to 3pm. Spare an hour or two, & come along to assist with necessary spring cleaning.

We’ll be doing a complete wipe down of the inside of the centre, and aiming to clean as much of the outside of the building as possible. As well as general gutter cleaning, raking, gardening - there is a task for all! All tools provided.

Email us on info@hillschildcare.org.au or leave your name on the list at the sign-in book if you can make it.

Kids most welcome too. Bring a bite to eat and your grubby clothes.

Committee Reportby Jerome Higgins

Committee President

Hi  all  and  welcome  to  the  start  of  Term  3!

We  have  had  a  fantas7c  first  half  year  at  HCCC  with  strong  enrolment  numbers,  new  families  joining  us  along  the  way,  a  great  trivia  night  in  March,  a  big  bumper  raffle  with  plenty  of  help  and  support  from  our  local  businesses  and  families.  If  this  is  you  -­‐-­‐-­‐  then  thank  you!  And  con7nued  thanks  for  our  great  staff  members  who  make  the  centre  what  it  is.

There's  also  been  a  bit  of  a  changing  of  the  guard  on  our  commiJee.  As  well  as  a  great  big  thank  you  to  founding  members  Megan,  Jacqui  and  Danny  (read  about  them  further  on),  we  would  like  to  introduce  Phil  Cuthbert  and  Sally  BlackeJ  to  the  volunteer  parent  commiJee.  

It's  been  a  great  opportunity  for  us  to  revise  our  goals  for  the  centre  and  there's  some  really  exci7ng  projects  in  the  pipeline.  As  well  as  the  new  cafe  blinds  on  the  decking  from  our  Bendigo  Bank  grant  (thanks  Iain  &  Steve  for  the  hard  work),  Karina  Gowan  has  managed  to  secure  a  grant  for  $3,000  to  allow  us  to  update  lots  of  our  play  equipment.  Other  projects  we  hope  to  achieve  with  fundraising  and  grant  money  over  the  next  twelve  months  include:  -­‐  Master  plan  concept  drawings  for  a  new  area  playground-­‐  Feasibility  of  rubberised  play  surface-­‐  Building  plans  for  an  indoor  toilet-­‐  Murals  on  both  the  garage  wall  in  the  backyard  and  for  panels  along  the  Charlemont  Lane  fence-­‐  Repain7ng  of  the  outside  of  the  building

The  other  major  project  behind  the  scenes  this  year  has  been  a  huge  applica7on  to  enable  us  to  become  Child  Care  Benefit  registered.  We  should  find  out  any  day  about  this  applica7on,  and  if  successful  it  is  the  first  step  for  our  parents  to  be  able  to  claim  back  a  healthy  rebate  for  child  care.  There's  s7ll  a  few  hoops  to  jump  through  but  we  are  very  hopeful.  Watch  this  space!

Remember,  we  are  always  looking  out  for  like  minded  parents  to  contribute  ideas  and  energy  to  the  commiJee.  A  general  member  can  expect  to  donate  a  couple  of  hours  at  the  mee7ng  once  a  month.  We'd  also  like  to  hear  from  any  handymen  or  tradies  within  our  parent  community  -­‐  there's  heaps  of  odd  jobs  &  maintenance  that  the  coJage  needs  from  7me  to  7me.

Hope  to  see  you  all  at  the  working  bee  on  Sunday  12th  August  at  10am!  Cheers  -­‐  Jerome  Higgins

What Do I Do With These Blue Family Assistance Receipts?

Good question!

Four times a year, Jenny will issue you with some Family Assistance receipts detailing the sessions that you have paid for.

HCCC is classed as ‘registered care’ and although this does not entitle us to the Child Care Benefits enjoyed by Long Day Care centres, it does entitle us to claim a small rebate. Currently the rebate is around $0.60 per hour. But it all adds up!

Here’s how you apply for a rebate payment;

• Take the yellow and blue Family Assistance receipts to the Dept Human Services (formerly Family Assistance Office)

• Complete the Claim for Child Care Benefit for registered care form (FA018).

• You must claim within 12 months of the care being provided. • Your Child Care rebate will be paid into your bank account

after you submit a claim.

There are some conditions to be eligible to apply for a rebate, including that the child care was used to allow the primary carers to work - so make sure you understand the Family Tax A&B or Centrelink implications! All this is explained on the form, or you can contact Family Assistance for more information - phone 13 6150.

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New Volunteer CommitteeElected at our AGM held 14th June 2012.

President – Jerome HigginsVice President & Enrolments – Sue FraserTreasurer – Phil CuthbertSecretary & Fundraising – Karina GowanFacilities – Iain FraserGeneral Member – James EdgeGeneral Member – Sally BlackettGeneral Member - you? – Join any time!!

We encourage parents to join in, help and have fun with us running the centre for our children!

We meet once a month (excluding January).

TRIVIA!Teams tables on

the night

12People who

came and played

102Number of businesses supporting our night

88Number of questions

on the night

100Amount of funds

raised for the centre

$6,120

Thank you!

A fun time was had by all at our 4th

annual trivia night way back in

March! The hall looked fantastic, and

what a great result, just over six

thousand dollars raised enabling

our centre to remain viable, &

allowing continuous improvements.

Support our Supporters!

If you are able, please remember

the businesses that support us.

Here are few of the major ones

[more businesses to the right]

Portside Stays : 0431 057 940 Inner city overnight luxurywww.portsidestays.com

Shade Living : 1300 137 434Quality rain & shade protectionwww.shadeliving.com.au

Olinda Cellars : 9751 0999Fine wine & beer right here in Olindawww.olindacellars.com.au

Rye Beach Break : 5985 7124Relaxing B&B retreat in Rye

Linden Gardens : 9751 1103Sumptuous relaxing B&B retreatwww.lindengardens.com.au

Trivia Night • Great Success!

✴ Acacia Ridge ✴Adventure Park Geelong✴Aerochute Flight✴Aesop✴Alpine Mowers✴Ashcombe Maze & Lavender Gardens✴Beachbreak✴Belgrave Book Barn✴Bills of Belgrave - Butcher✴Bluestone Acres✴Bunnings Bayswater✴Cachets✴Cameo Cinemas✴Channel Nine Footy Show✴Chesterfield Farm✴Cloudehill Nursery✴Coles✴Computers Now✴Conifer Gardens Nursey✴Croydon Aquatic Centre✴Croydon Galleries✴Dandenong Ranges Physio✴Dare To Be Bare✴Deli Platter✴Dragon Boat Restaurant, Knox✴Earthly Pleasure's Café✴Fergusson Winery✴Flaunt Design✴Genovese Coffee✴Geppetto's✴Giant Steps✴Greta's Gorgeous Aromatherapy✴Harper Collins Publishers Australia✴Herbicious Delicious✴Hobnobs✴IGA Mt Dandenong✴Imax Melbourne✴Kilsyth Centenary Pool✴KLG Career Services✴Knitware✴Kumbada Dance✴Last Laugh At The Comedy Club✴Launch Speakers✴Little Gumnuts Photography✴Luna Park ...and heaps more to come in the next newsletter!

Support our SupportersThe following businesses donated to our trivia night held in March. If you can, show your support to them too!

Dr Quizio Bean counters! Balloons!!

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Woolworths  have  extended  the  dates  for  their  Earn  &  Learn  Program,  and  they  have  opened  it  to  Child  Care  Centres  too!  

HCCC  is  now  signed  up  -­‐  so  if  you  shop  at  Safeway  /  Woolworths  and  want  to  collect  for  us,  please  do!

You  can  hand  in  s3ckers  or  sheets  of  s3ckers  to  Jenny  at  the  centre  and  we'll  send  them  back  to  earn  points.

Ends  1st  September

HCCC CHESTNUT FESTIVAL STALL MAY & RAFFLE 2012

Raffle prizes on display at the stall helped generate great interest and sell the first batch of tickets.

The Balloonologist twists and turns for kids of all ages.

Help  boost  enrolments  at  by  telling  people  about  our  great  liWle  centre!

We  are  seeking  your  support  to  con3nue  this  great  not-­‐for-­‐profit  service  for  the  families  of  the  Dandenongs.  Essen3ally,  we  are  on  the  look  out  for  new  enrolments  –  all  the  3me!

The  centre  needs  a  certain  amount  of  kids  each  week  in  order  for  it  to  be  viable.  There  is  plenty  of  room  for  more  kids  at  the  centre,  and  this  directly  helps  keep  our  budget  in  a  more  comfortable  zone.

The  commiWee  would  like  to  take  this  opportunity  to  reinforce  that  the  HCCC  

relies  on  word-­‐of-­‐mouth  referrals  from  all  parents,  friends  and  families  of  the  hills.  This  is  where  we  receive  the  majority  of  new  enrolments.

We  feel  it  important  to  convey  that  with  each  addi3onal  child  aWending  the  centre  per  week,  great  financial  pressure  is  relieved  from  our  opera3ng  costs.  Should  you  know  of  any  families  that  are  seeking  child  care,  we  would  be  happy  to  assist  and  grateful  for  your  kind  referral.

PS  :  Like  us  on  Facebook!  Don’t  miss  out  on  more  photos  and  news.  Find  us.  Like  us!

Spread The Word : We ♥ Enrolments! Earn & Learn On!

The major prize for our raffle in all its glory on display at the Chestnut Festival. Big thanks to Michaels Trailers Healesville for the extremely generous donation www.michaelstrailers.com

The Hills Community Child Care stall spread the word about the

centre, and sold Raffle Tickets to keep raising funds.

Thanks to all the families, staff & committee members who came along and donated their time on the stand to help promote our centre!

Page 4

Raffle Prize winners listed next page.

Thank you to everyone who entered our 2012 Mega Raffle! The winners were drawn at our AGM meeting on 14th June. The raffle raised $2,030 from sales of the tickets with all of the prizes donated by very generous supporting businesses.

1st New deluxe 6” x 4” trailer & firewood! - Donated by Michael’s Trailers Healesville : www.michaelstrailers.com 0418 883 335 Winner : Ron Staines

2nd One Night Rye Beach Break for four : Donated by Rye Beach Break Winner : Sarah Rice

3rd Luxury Ladies Pamper Pack - Donated Cachets, Greta's Aromatherapy, Olinda Pharmacy, Yarra Ranges Osteopathy, York Hairdressing Winner : Vivien de Vanny

4th Children’s Book & Toy Pack - Donated by Geppetto’s & Mountain Ash Winner : Lyn Gilson

5th Maroondah Leisure Vouchers Donated by Maroondah City Council Winner : Gowan Family

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!!!

Retiring Founding Committee Members

Those unaware of the history of the centre may not know that it was opened in 2008 after nearly a year of tireless efforts - upgrading the cottage, canvassing support, raising money, and filling out endless forms for approval - all done by the original committee members.  Danny Eckhardt, Jacqui Hooper & Megan Ferguson were all part of the original committee, and were a big part of getting the centre up and running for us all to enjoy, and now with children no longer at the centre, and a whole bunch of other things on their to-do lists, they have stepped aside from the committee.

On behalf of the Carers, Kids, Committee and Parents, we would like to extend an ENORMOUS THANK YOU for the hundreds if not thousands of hours of volunteer time given by these three wonderful people - we count ourselves lucky to have had their involvement in the community, and we wish them well with all their future endeavors!

Thank you from one and all for your efforts over the years!

It’s a Sign!Have  you  seen  our  new  no7ce  boards?  At  Pellegrinos  &  also  one  of  our  families  on  Mt  Dandy  Tourist  Rd!  

Big  thanks  to  Stockdale  &  Leggo  for  arranging  them  for  us!

Important Dates & Events

Page 5

1. Sun 12th August - Working Bee!

2. Sun 2nd September - Fathers Day

3. Fri 21st September - Term 3 Ends

4. Mon 8th October - Term 4 Starts

Raffle Winners

Megan

One very happy Ron Staines with 1st prize!

Jacqui

Danny

Minister for School Education, Early Childhood & Youth Peter Garrett pictured with our very own

Jerome Higgins at the recent Berwick Community Cabinet meeting on 16th May.

Jerome secured a 10 minute meeting with the minister and a

DHS representative, and put forward our case for inclusion in

the Child Care Benefit rebate scheme, as well as assisting in

raising the profile of our centre with the DEECD and DHS

departments.

Page 6

Coming

Snaps From The Last Few Months...

Consumables Drive : August / Sept

With all of the runny nosey and cold weeks, we have churned through our tissues / wipes etc!

In September we will be having a consumables drive - so if you are able, next time you are at the supermarket - grab a spare pack of any of the following;

• Tissues• Wipes• Disposable Gloves• Toilet Paper

A hamper will be in the foyer for these donations.

Photos : Second last week of Term 3

For the first time, at the end of Term 3 we will be having some professional photos taken at the centre.

This has been a request of many parents, and we are lucky to have Katrina from Little Gumnuts Photography offer to assist this year. She will generously donate a portion of the proceeds to the centre.

Photos will mainly be of individuals and playgroups, with different packs available for purchase. We may attempt groups photos too.

More information will be sent out soon.

Requests...If there is any thing large or small that you would like to see either at the centre, or in the newsletter - then please don’t hesitate to send through an email to us - we love feedback! info@hillschildcare.org.au

Children playing at the centre inside and out.