The future of Baan Baa and surrounds is going to be in good hands as the community works to give the younger generation early childhood education and experiences in conjunction with Ooranga Family Mobile Resource Unit.
There is community excitement for this new service. It will be a big change for Baan Baa and good news for young families moving to the area since the closure of the Baan Baa school many years ago.
Ooranga Family Mobile Resource Unit has been working closely with the Baan Baa Hall Committee to open a mobile preschool service in the Baan Baa Hall early in 2025.
Baan Baa resident and hall committee member Ellen McClung said, “In 2024 we have been operating a fortnightly playgroup so it’s fantastic we get to see the service expand. The preschool plans to operate Tuesdays and Wednesdays during school terms with the playgroup to continue fortnightly on a Thursday.”
Ooranga is part of a fee free program that means that parents do not have to pay for the preschool sessions.
Director of Ooranga Leanne Pryor said, “We will be offering 18 places on Tuesday and Wednesday with the option of a third day if there is sufficient interest.”
“I will have three of my most experienced and top-ranking educators running the sessions and if parents are interested, they can ring the Gunnedah office to enrol their child or obtain further information.”
There is no residential restriction so people from Baan Baa, Narrabri, Boggabri and surrounds are all welcome to enrol.
The hall has received some dynamic upgrades in preparation to host the preschool and the building itself, that has stood for more than 100 years, is looking better than ever.
New fencing, air-conditioning and a folding partition have been added to create the preschool space.
Ooranga has coordinated this and received support from Boggabri Coal and Whitehaven Coal. The hall committee have also received sponsorship from Whitehaven Coal for resources for the playgroup earlier this year, including a new sandpit and a yarning circle mat.
The hall committee has been focussed on offering local social opportunities and welcoming people of all ages to enjoy the hall facilities. Activities such as tennis clinics, art workshop, community barbecue and live performances are on the cards.
Recently they have been successful in obtaining a NSW School Holiday Break program grant of $10,000 which will allow them to offer school holiday activities in January and autumn school holidays next year.
