CHILDREN’S SERVICES INCORPORATED

72 GIBBONS STREET NARRABRI NSW 2390

PH: 67926566 FAX: 67926322 EMAIL:

19th of October, 2012.

Dear Parents, Staff and interested Community Members,

I am writing to inform you of a very serious matter that will impact on the viability and provision of both the Narrabri and Wee Waa Child Care Centres and in turn both the Nurruby OOSH service and Narrabri Early Childhood Intervention Service.

At the June Council meeting a report was put to the council that commercial rent be charged to both the Narrabri and Wee Waa Child Care Services. This would mean a cost of $26 000.00 for the Narrabri service and $18 000.00 for the Wee Waa service. This motion was carried with no consultation or idea as to its impact. After speaking with council and some of the Councillors, it was agreed that the matter would go back to the Narrabri Shire Council for further discussion at the October Council Meeting.

I was told that the matter was to be discussed in the closed section of the October meeting but that I would be able to speak in the Public Forum. However, I was then informed that I was not to “speak to the matter”, and when in fact I mentioned “proposed commercial rental charges” I was stopped by the Mayor and told I couldn’t refer to anything to do with rent. As you can imagine this has left us feeling, that a decision is being made without due process and consultation being allowed. This is a new council and many of the councillors would be unaware of Nurruby’s history.

On reading the Council Meeting minutes this morning, the motion to charge commercial rental charges on both properties is being carried over to the November Council Meeting.

Therefore, I am writing to families, staff and any interested community members to come along to a meeting to discuss how we progress. Meetings are to be held on Monday the 29th of October at 6.00pm at Nurruby Narrabri and Tuesday the 30th of October at 6.00pm at Nurruby Wee Waa.

It should be noted that both services were built with grants. Nurruby is responsible for the repairs and maintenance for both properties and fundraises for any improvements or re-furbishments to the services. We are a community based non-profit organisation.

At the meetings, I would like to outline in much more detail the history of both these services and why this decision seems so unjust. Please come along and support us.

If you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact me on 67926566.

Yours faithfully,

Prue Jamieson

MANAGING DIRECTOR