30 Jan 2018 Border Mail, Albury-Wodonga (General News) LONG day care will be available five days a week in Chiltern for the first time with the opening of the towns Early Years Hub. The addition of three extra days for children aged up to three and extension of opening hours to 7.30am to 6pm brings more flexibility for parents. The Victorian government, Albury-Wodonga Community College and Indigo Council contributed funding to upgrade the former Chiltern Municipal Offices building next to the post office. The project refurbished and extended the community building to include two children rooms, a sleeping room and amenities, adding capacity by 33 spaces. Hours of the existing kindergarten opposite the Hub, caring for children aged three to five, have also been extended by AWCC to five days a week. Northern Victoria MLC Jaclyn Symes opened the Hub yesterday, which began taking children today. As a mother of young children I know how vital childcare services in country towns are, she said. When I was walking through, I couldnt believe $300,000 had covered it . congratulations to the families that are going to benefit. Chiltern mum Bree Murphy is ready to sign up her two-year-old Zander Salmon, now that the Hub is open. When we started to look into daycare there werent any options here, she said. Travelling just wasnt convenient for us. This looks like a good set up everyones really excited to have this service now. Construction began in September and was completed a couple of weeks ago. Ms Murphy said the only thing missing was a shade structure outside protecting kids playing in the sandpit which council plans to provide. Project officer Adam Flynn said council had applied for funding through the state governments shade grants program for an eight-metre structure and would hear back soon. Indi MP Cathy McGowan congratulated council and deputy mayor Sophie Price, who pushed for better childcare before she was elected. She was studying at university and rang our office, she said. She organised a meeting and there was a gathering of 20 people. Caption Text: READY: Bree Murphy, with Isabelle Salmon, 4 months, wants Zander Salmon, 2, to attend the Chiltern Early Years Hub. Picture: MARK JESSERLicensed by Copyright Agency. You may only copy or communicate this work with a licence.