Parents attended a public meeting called by Greater Hume Shire Council to discuss childcare options on Tuesday night.

Alma Park farmers Joanne Knobel and Renae Lieschke depend on occasional childcare at Walla Walla for their off-farm work.

Renae is a book keeper and Joanne works once a week in administration for the Lutheran Church at Jindera.

Only unexpended Community Services funds held by Greater Hume Shire Council will keep the occasional childcare service in Walla Walla going until June 30 2011.

Funding from the Department of Community Services (DOCS) has been withdrawn due to the Farm and Rural Mobile Service for Children (FARMS) not having a pre-school component.

A wave of panic has hit local families who depend on FARMS for work, respite and time out.

“There are a lot of young mums on the land who are isolated and don’t have an extended family to support them,” said Mrs Knobel who has two young boys, Jack, 4, and Daniel, 2.

Mrs Lieschke drew attention to the waiting list of 15 for the one day a week service at Walla Walla. There would easily be enough children to provide a second day,” she said.

Both mums will take their older children to pre-school. Mrs Lieschke plans to enrol Micah at Pleasant Hills when the time comes and Mrs Knobel uses the Henty pre-school.

Families from Walla Walla take their children to Burrumbuttock for pre-school.

“Council is optimistic the children’s services will continue to be offered in Walla Walla after June 30 2011,” Greater Hume Shire Council’s General Manager Steven Pinnuck said last week.

While the immediate issue involves Walla Walla, there are broader issues across Greater Hume Shire involving a lack of children’s services and before and after school care.

Childcare has become an important component of whether families live in rural towns and villages or choose to travel from the bigger regional centres.

Before and after school care can be crucial to some families who are not going to knock back a potential income of $70,000 because there’s no after and before school care.

Holbrook is the only centre that provides this service in Greater Hume Shire.

“Clearly if Council is going to target young families to live in the shire we need to be able to provide services families need,” Mr Pinnuck said.

“The provision of children’s services is a real challenge for the shire and essential for a sustainable community.”