Daycare centre to open in January

A new daycare centre is set to open in Nowack Ave, Umina Beach.

Owned by Glenn Hale, the Umina Kids Club Daycare Centre is expected to open in late January.

Mr Hale said that the day care centre is built on the site of his grandmother's property, and the adjoining properties either side.

"The reason we decided to do a child care centre was that we wanted to do something we could build and keep, and we wanted to make it a memorial to my mother, Alma, as she was forever looking after kids," Mr Hale said.

Mr Hale said that when he was young and the property itself was owned by his grandmother, his mother looked after his grandmother and her sister, both elderly, as well as three children.

"We all lived in this two-bedroom house," Mr Hale said.

"I saw it as fitting that we were able to put together a development that looked after kids.

"I didn't know at the time but there is a massive need for that service on the Peninsula."

There were over 1000 children in Umina alone under five.

Mr Hale said the centre is currently conducting interviews for appropriate directors and staff, and taking enrolments of children.

The daycare centre will cater for 72 children aged up to five, and will be open Monday to Friday, from 7am to 6pm.

Mr Hale's father, Ronald Hale, started Umina Junior Rugby League Club.

Lyle Stone, August 17