Puggles Celebrates 20 Years of Operation

Published on 26 November 2019

The Puggles Children’s Services Van clocked up twenty years of operation in October with a family Teddy Bear’s picnic at the Tumbarumba Sports Hub.

Snowy Valleys Council’s Children’s Services Manager Kylie Wilesmith said that Puggles has an amazing team of educators and is supported by a strong family committee who are passionate about children’s services for rural communities.

“Together we’ve seen many changes and have worked in partnership to bring educational programming to families and children in our local areas,” Ms Wilesmith said.

The iconic bright yellow van has over the year’s serviced communities including Tooma, Humula, Brungle, Rosewood, Talbingo, Cabramurra, Tarcutta, Adjungbilly, Ladysmith, Talbingo and Ournie.

Back in 1999 locals Julia Ham, Anita Waters and Karen Daniels sought funding for the program with assistance from Tim Fisher, who helped to advocate getting the service underway.

Today, Council auspices the Puggles Children’s Services Van providing education and care to rural and remote communities, for children aged six weeks to school age.

The Puggles annual Teddy Bear’s Picnic was originally started by Puggles’ families who wanted to advocate and celebrate the service.

This year the Picnic was supported by a $2,000 Tumbarumba Community Small Grant funded by Hyne Community Trust, the Tumbarumba Bendigo Bank and Snowy Valleys Council.

“The Puggles’ team would like to especially thank and acknowledge Hyne Community Trust and the Tumbarumba Bendigo Bank for helping us to make this year’s picnic celebration such a special event,” Ms Wilesmith said.