Bellbridge says 'thank you' to Minister Tehan, Haines, mayor

The Bellbridge Early Years Learning Centre parent committee threw a "thank you" party for Education Minister Dan Tehan, Indi MP Helen Haines and Towong Council mayor David Wortmann.

The committee held a meeting with Indi candidates in May over the emergency funding awarded to Towong Council to operate the service after AWCC's withdrawal.

With that to expire, and no confirmation from Mr Tehan about ongoing funding after his pledge earlier that year, the committee put out a call to action.

But in June the money flowed through, much to the relief of parent committee president Gennifer Hamam.

"Since it's been locked in, our numbers have been very steady," she said.

"The two schools' enrollments are up for next year.

"When AWCC pulled out so suddenly, there was so much concern.

"It happened at our Christmas party, two days before the holidays.

"The fact we're here 12 months later, and we're still standing and our numbers are going up, is great."

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Towong mayor David Wortmann said Mr Tehan, who was represented at the celebration on Friday by a senior adviser, had always been strong in his assurances.

"When they announced that funding, it was in caretaker mode, and he spoke to Tanya Plibersek who gave him an assurance she would honour this agreement," he said.

"And when they won the election, he rang me back and said 'everything's a goer'.

"The thing is, if you look from Canberra and you see Bellbridge, it's so close to Albury-Wodonga - but no one was coming from that direction, our catchment is east.

"And that's what we had to get through to them."

Dr Haines campaigned on behalf of the childcare centre and congratulated Mr Tehan on finding a funding solution that wasn't competition-based.

"It's not then contingent on the numbers of enrollments, which is so important in small communities like this because the population fluctuates," she said.

"If we close a small childcare centre like this, we lose the kindergarten next, and the school, and a community - it's a domino effect.

"It's a bit of an example for other small regional, rural communities - if they can be funded under that special arrangement, that would be good, too."

There are a number of funding options under the new community child care fund - which AWCC said was a major factor in withdrawal from childcare services - and Bellbridge has received special circumstances funding for the near future.

Dr Haines hoped a similar arrangement could be made for AWCC community childcare centres in Chiltern and Wodonga, set to close in December 2020.

She has an upcoming briefing scheduled with Mr Tehan's advisers.