Families in Grafton now have more choice and opportunities for their children with the opening of the Clarence Valley’s newest preschool, Clarence Community Preschool.

Member for Clarence Chris Gulaptis said the new, 20-place, preschool in Turf Street came to be after Manager of Clarence Childcare Services Association Cristie Harris approached him for help with the plans of her organisation back in 2018. 

“Together, we secured a Nationals in NSW Government grant of $431000 for a recently acquired building to be refurbished,” he said,

“This was undertaken through Covid-19 and floods, and while the new renovations are very close to completion, our littlest learners have started the year in a temporary building across the road at Clarence Childhood Services Association’s main building.

“Cristie wasn’t going to let a few delays prevent the children from starting preschool and has moved mountains to establish a temporary site across the road for their first term of learning.”

Mr Gulaptis was joined by Nationals Candidate for Clarence Richie Williamson on site last month who said he was eager to continue the stunning progress of preschools in the Clarence and Richmond valleys since The Nationals were elected to Government in 2011.

“We’ve gone from last to first in Australia over a very short time,” Mr Williamson said.

“Under Labor, our local Nationals MP literally had to ‘pedal for preschools’ to raise funds for them, but the NSW Nationals in Government have invested so much in preschool education that it has become affordable, often free, for local families and we now have the highest participation rates in the country.

“A high-quality early childhood education gives children the best start in life and it’s really exciting to see a new preschool open its doors to meet the growing demand in the area.”

Ms Harris said they are thrilled to be able to provide a new preschool to the Grafton community.

“It has been over three decades since a new preschool opened in Grafton and with the increase in demand, we have been working for a number of years on how we can support families with their preschool needs,” she said.

“I am so appreciative to the support that has been offered by the NSW Government and in particular Chris Gulaptis in helping us get the doors open.”