5 Children’s & Infant’s Activities and Services 

( July 2008 ) 

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Maternal & Child Health Centre

Kyneton Maternal and Child Health Centre 3 Hutton St Kyneton 54220366

The Centre’s nurses provide free care and advice to families of children aged 0-6 years. All nurses are registered with the Nurses Board of Victoria as general nurses, midwives and maternal & child health nurses.

Mothers are encouraged to visit the Centre where the nurse will review their child’s health, discuss parenting issues and talk to each mother about her own health and how the experience with her baby has been so far.

The Service offers information to support mother and family such as child health and development, immunisation, and support with breastfeeding. The Service also provides parent groups for first time parents, home visits, and referrals if necessary.

Hours: Tues: appointments; Wed (am): apps; Wed (pm): parenting; Thurs: apps; Fri: home visits; every 2nd Mon: apps. Contact at the Centre is Chris O’Higgins.

Immunisations

The Shire Council’s Health Officers provide infant, child and adult immunisations on a monthly basis. The immunisation venue is the Richardson room at the Town Hall. A timetable of sessions and the recommended schedule can be downloaded from www.macedon-ranges.vic.gov.au and is in the appendices to this Guide.

Baby Capsule Hire

The Kyneton & District Health Service provides a baby capsule hire service for healthcare and concession cardholders. The cost of hire is $60 plus a $20 refundable deposit. As limited numbers are available it is advisable to book as early as possible in pregnancy. For further information phone 54229900. Private company hire is available to non-concession cardholders through Hire for Babe 54111944 (Bendigo) or 93722000 (Flemington) and Maam Bagy Capsule Hire 1300885645 (Sunbury).

Childcare

Cobaw Family Day Care

Cobaw Community Health  47 High Street Kyneton  ph: 54211666

A fully accredited childcare service for children 0-12 years of age, childcare is in small groups in the homes of carefully selected home based childcare providers.

ABC Childcare Centre

ABC Kyneton  30 Mair Street Kyneton  ph: 54223552 Hours: 6.30am-6.30pm

Forms of childcare offered: Childcare for children from 6 weeks to 5 years: before and after school care, vacation care

Occasional Childcare at the Kyneton Community & Learning Centre

Kyneton Community & Learning Centre 34 Mollison Street;  ph: Joanne 54221628

Forms of care offered:

(i)Occasional Care: a program for children in a multi age group setting.

Times of Operation: Tues, Wed, Thur: 9am-12 noon

(ii) Kiddy Capers for 3 and 4 year olds offers a more structured pre-kinder program.

Times of Operation: Tues & Thur: 12.45pm-3.45pm

Early Intervention is provided by Cobaw Community Health  ph 54211666.

The program is for 0-6 year olds with a developmental delay and/or disability. It provides a flexible range of services across a range of settings including home, childcare and kindergarten. Children having problems with their overall development – crawling, walking, talking, listening, thinking, playing, concentrating, drawing, feeding/eating, socialising can be given expert assistance including speech therapists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and educational advisors.

To access this service contact the information and referral team  1300 363 514.

Playgroups

Kyneton Playgroup operates during school terms at the Uniting Church Hall. Parents/guardians and their children can come as often as they like for a small fee.

Times of operation:

Mondays:         11am-1pm: Playgroup open to 0 to 6 year olds

Tuesdays:        10am-noon: Playgroup open to 0 to 6 year olds

Wednesdays:  9.30am-11.30am: Rostered Playgroup open to 0 to 3 year olds

Fridays:            10am-noon: Playgroup open to 0 to 6 year olds

Contact Jenny Connor ph: 0417566585

Malmsbury Mums & Kids Club (formerlyPlaygroup) gathers in the Malmsbury Town Hall Mondays 10.30-12.30pm. Contact person is Tanya Harrison 54232777.

Tylden Playgroup operates in the Tylden Tennis Clubrooms next to the Tylden Hall. on Wednesday mornings between 9 and 11am.Contact Renee Dudley 54248227.

Parent Buddy Program

Volunteers visit families with pre-schoolers around Kyneton to offer practical support or just visit for a coffee. Enquiries call Henni Wade at Cobaw 54211631.

Pre-School/Kindergarten  -See Education chapter.

Playgrounds

There are many locations in and around Kyneton where public children’s play equipment is located.

Jean Haynes Park – Located on the corner of High and Edgecombe Streets adjacent to the Visitor’s Information Centre. This modern well shaded playground is fenced and has swings, climbing and children’s adventure equipment, a train and slides. It has adequate seating, a free public barbeque and toilets nearby.

Mechanics Reserve Playground – Located in Baynton St next to the Library and just across from Safeway. This very popular fenced playground is ideally placed for a break with the kids during shopping. A toilet block with baby change area is nearby.

Kyneton Botanical Gardens – Located cnr Mollison & Clowes Sts, the gardens contain just two children’s swings, seating, free barbeque and public toilets.

Bottom Oval Playground – Located in Mair Street adjacent to the second oval at the Showgrounds. The playground is currently not fenced, is grassed and contains swings, slide, low monkey bars, climbing equipment and sandpit

Campaspe Views Playground – This modern playground is situated on the corner of Village Green Drive and Bolton Reserve Lane in the new Campaspe Views Estate. It contains swings, slide, & adventure style play equipment Adequate seating nearby.

Kyneton Mineral Springs and Reserve - Located on the Old Calder Highway at the Lauriston turn off. This attractive area has extensive play equipment in a well developed picnic area which includes toilets, free electric barbeque, seating and tables, is very well shaded and has mineral water to pump.

Lauriston Reservoir – Located at reservoir Rd Lauriston Has a well developed picnic area, play equipment and barbeque facilities.

Malmsbury Botanic Gardens – Wonderful picnic setting with central lake, facilities in barbeque, play equipment toilets and shaded setting and tables

Tylden Reserve – Located next to the Tylden Hall on the Tylden-Trentham Road. Playground has swings, climbing equipment, slide, monkey bars. The reserve has an excellent covered barbeque area with associated tables and seating and toilets nearby.

Kyneton Community Playground Project: As part of the Strengthening Families Project a Committee has been formed to bring about the construction of a first class modern family friendly playground in Kyneton. Contact is Natalie Hanna 54222860.

Toy Library

Maternal & Child Health Centre 3 Hutton St, Kyneton

The Kyneton Toy Library is a wonderful resource for families with young children. $25 per year allows families to borrow 2 toys and 2 puzzles per fortnight; $30 per year 4 of each. Both of these memberships involve one duty per term. No duty is required for the $25 grandparents or $60 non-duty memberships.

The Toy Library also has a loan kit for functions where young children are expected.

Open: Thu: 11.30-1.30pm, Sat: 10.30-noon  Contact: Wendy Butterworth 54222461

Children’s Storytime

This free activity for 2 to 5 year olds is held in the Kyneton Library at 11am each Friday. No booking is required–parents simply bring their children into the Library.

Bug-a-Lugs –Indoor play Centre

1/3 Hoyle Crt Kyneton ph: 54222767  Open :Th, Sa &Su 10-4pm; Fr 10-5.30pm

While kids play on the jumping castle, triple slide, giant mushroom, climbing etc parents can enjoy a cup of coffee or they can play with the kids. Entry is $5 age 1-5 and $7 for over 5, adults are free. Group bookings are available.

Recreation Areas

Swimming Pool: Kyneton’s outdoor pool is located on the corner of Mollison and Maxwell Sts and is open in summer Mon-Sat 11am to 6pm and Sun 12 to 6pm.

The Skate Park: is adjacent to the bottom oval of the Showgrounds Beauchamp St.

Library

The Kyneton Library, located next to Kyneton Primary School and adjacent to the Mechanics Reserve, has and excellent range of children’s books.

Organised Activities for Children

Art Classes

Studio Whites conducts Kids Art Club Mon-Wed 4-5.30pm and Fri 4.30-6pm.

Classes at Studio Whites 134 Mollison St Kyneton. Contact Pauline on 54226666.

Sporting Activities:

Most of the sporting clubs have children’s competitions, including basketball, cricket, cycling, football, equestrian, little athletics, soccer, swimming, squash & tennis. Swimming classes are available from 3 different locations For details see the Chapter 7 swimming and sports sections.

Cubs

1st Kyneton Cubs meet at the Kyneton Scout Hall, Franklin Place, Fridays 6.30-8pm. Cubs is open to boys & girls. Badge work includes campfire lighting & safety, bushcraft, signals and public speaking. Contact: Michael O’Sullivan 54237231.

Churches’ Children’s Activities:

Anglican Church: After School Club

Thur 3.30-5pm St Pauls Hall Yaldwyn St West  Contact: Ruth Murphy 54235253

Baptist Church Sunday School

Sun 9.45 Baptist Church Ebden St  Contact: Ryan Smith 0425 762 912

Dance

Several Dance schools that teach all forms of dance to children operate in Kyneton:

Hotpink 54221796, Starz 54270302 and Steps 54222776. (More details Chap 7)

Live School Holiday Shows Held at the Kyneton Town Hall

In each of the term holiday periods, quality children’s live performances are staged in the Kyneton Town Hall. The calendar of programs can be can be found via the Shire website: www.macedonranges.vic.gov.au (simply chose Events from the menu)

Kyneton Show Idol

There is an under 13 section of this competition which is held in conjunction with the Kyneton Show. Heats are held prior to the Show and the Final on the Show’s Friday night on the 3rd weekend of November. Contacts: Daryl & Denise Sheridan 54221665.

Kyneton Municipal Band

Kyneton Band membership is open to all ages. To encourage and support present and new members, music tuition, supply of instruments, and a uniform is provided free of charge. For further information contact Jenny Batchelor on 54222198.

Strengthening Families Working Group Kyneton

Kyneton parents and community organisations are working together to respond to the ideas of local people and build new opportunities for children and families in Kyneton. New members are welcome. Contact: Julie Cairns: 54211625

Macedon Ranges Shire Family Newsletter

Published at the start of each school term this newsletter is a resource to provide information about what is available for parents, children and families each term. Editor is Julie Cairns at Cobaw Community Health on 54211625.

The newsletter is available from Cobaw (47 High St), the Maternal & Child Health Centre (3 Hutton St), Kyneton Community and Learning Centre (34 Mollison St) or from the Shire website www.macedon-ranges.vic.gov.au