Construction on the $2.5-million Nhill Early Years Centre started in May and the community set out to raise $400,000 for the project.

The centre will be a multi-purpose early years care and education precinct that will incorporate kindergarten, day care, maternal and child health, playgroup and a toy library.

Fundraising committee chairwoman Wendy Robins said the building was now well underway.

“Our committee has had a walk through of the building and there was lots of comments about how great it looks inside,” she said.

“The structure is looking good, there is plenty of storage spaces inside and the rooms are well set out.

“There are lots of windows so people can still see the children in the playground from inside the building.

“A lot of thought has gone into the centre.”

Mrs Robins said the building should be finished early in the new year and would open in term two.

“There are a lot of regulations that council will have to comply with before the doors are opened,” she said.

Mrs Robins said fundraising was also going well, with $139,000 raised so far.

Earlier this month, the Freemasons Foundation Victoria donated $25,000 to the centre and the Nhill Lowan Lodge contributed $1000.

“The foundation have also said if we find another donor, they will match that donation up to $25,000,” Mrs Robins said.

“The Freemasons have been quite helpful in the Nhill community and it’s a considerable amount of money they have given us.

“The future for Nhill children and our future leaders is very exciting – in 30 years some of these young boys might be new members of the Nhill Lowan Lodge.”

Mrs Robin said after Christmas the committee would look to source another donor. 

“We’ve also been looking for grants and other donations, and a few businesses have given us money,” she said.

Mrs Robins said the committee had also run smaller fundraisers such as raffles

“We have tins set up in a lot of shops for people to put in their loose change,” she said.

Mrs Robins said it was great to see the generosity of the community.

“The centre is something we really need and we know it is hard to fundraise, but in small country towns people rally together to help out,” she said.