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A DIMBOOLA toddler has vowed to help rebuild Horsham’s University Early Learning Centre with his friends after it was gutted by fire on Sunday.
Syd Pilmore, 3, attended the centre with his brother Gus. Their mother Meran Pilmore said she knew Syd would find the fire news difficult to take.
“We sat him down and said there had been a fire and childcare had been so badly damaged he could not go there on Monday,” she said.
Syd was initially concerned if his favourite childcare worker was okay.
“We explained, being a Sunday, there was no one there and no one was hurt,” Mrs Pilmore said.
“He look perplexed and deep in thought, then explained all would be okay.
“He said, ‘I can build a new childcare. I can get my tools and build a huge tower that we can all go to. Let’s get dressed and we can go and start building’.
“I explained that the firemen and women had to make sure the fire was out and then they would need to clean up all the rubble.
“We showed him the video of the fires and he watched it on repeat time and time again and became more determined to be the one to rebuild.
“We made no mention of the centre’s animals, as we had just assumed they had not survived. But shortly after we received the message that all the animals had been saved.”
Mrs Pilmore said Syd was sure his friends would help.
“It’s the innocence of children who want to make things right that make a place such as this so amazing,” she said.
“We so often discourage them and say ‘Oh no, you won’t be able to rebuild it’. But these facilities are nothing without the staff and children.
“I have no doubt Syd and his friends will rebuild this place, not with bricks and mortar, but with love, friendship and adoration for a place they feel safe and welcomed.”
Wimmera Uniting Care acting deputy chief executive Alistair Houston said the authority was still looking for suitable medium-term childcare alternatives.
“We are having a more formal gathering of all involved on Wednesday. We have one very short-term possibility, but it would only be for six weeks, so we have to consider if that's long enough to invest time and effort in setting it up,” he said.
“It looks highly unlikely we'll be able to provide anything this week.”
Mr Houston said the authority was thankful for offers of help and toy donations.