21 Dec 2016 Ovens and Murray Advertiser, Wangaratta VIC (General News) THE Victorian government will advance almost $240,000 to Indigo Shire Council to help the Chiltern community to establish an early years education hub in the town. Jaclyn Symes (MLC, Northern Victoria) said the grant would deliver vital kindergarten programs for local children in the year before school and would help to give Chiltern families flexible, accessible and affordable early learning and care services. Chiltern is growing and it is investments like this that will pay enormous dividends for families, Ms Symes said. High-quality early years education and care are vital to giving every child the best start in life. Ms Symes said the government was transforming early childhood services to try to ensure that families could use early childhood services no matter where they lived. I would also like to thank Indigo councillor Barb Murdoch for raising the need for this funding with me, she said. The grants form part of a $60 million government investment in early childhood development through building and upgrading kindergartens and childrens centres. Cr Murdoch a long-standing Chiltern community and advocate also told Indigo council of the grant at its regular monthly meeting in Beechworth last night. Licensed by Copyright Agency. You may only copy or communicate this work with a licence.