Happy birthday

By Sarah Schwager
A CRANBOURNE child-care centre has beaten the odds by making it to its 20th birthday.
Devastating fires, competition and dwindling numbers could not put the Clarendon Street Child Care Centre out of business.
Parents, staff and students are preparing to celebrate the momentous occasion this weekend.
Ineke Reyerse, a child-care worker and the assistant director at the centre, said staff had considered closing the centre in 1999 and 2000 because of changes to child-care assistance and competition from other centres.
In 2002, fears for the centre were again raised after it burnt down twice in one year – the second time as it was being rebuilt.
Ms Reyerse, who started working at the centre a month after it opened in 1986, said it was important to have smaller family-oriented centres like Clarendon Street operating.
“I feel very strongly about this,” she said. “Around 1999, a lot of child-care centres closed down, but we felt it was important to stay open.
“Most of us were working overtime without pay just to keep it open.”
The centre can take 35 children from three months to six years old.
Ms Reyerse said they were now seeing the children of children at the centre.
“It has such a nice feel because it’s so small. You know all the staff and the children,” she said.
“I would have found it really hard to work somewhere else.”
All past and present children, parents, staff, students and friends of the centre are invited to the 20th anniversary this Saturday, 17 June between 2pm and 5pm.
A dinner will also be held at the Amstel Golf Club at 7pm. Cost is $30 a head.
The centre is located at 43A Clarendon Street, Cranbourne. For information, call 5996 6258 or 0402 051 543.