Photo caption: Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton (right) pictured with Nurruby Childcare and Preschool Director Catherine Morgan and long-serving cook and educator Donna Dicks in front of the new solar panels.

Nurruby Children’s Services will be able to save on its power bills and inspire the next generation to be more energy conscious after installing a new solar system thanks to a $6,500 grant provided through the Federal Government’s Powering Communities Program.

Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton today visited Nurruby Childcare Centre and Preschool in Narrabri to inspect the new solar system, which was installed at the end of last year.

“Energy costs are often one of the biggest overheads for not-for-profit organisations,” Mr Coulton said.

“I’m thrilled to be able to support Nurruby to help reduce its power bills and ease financial pressures, while also educating local children about sustainability and the impact they can have on the environment.

“It’s organisations like these that are the heart of communities around my electorate, and this assistance will allow them to continue to grow, invest and support local jobs.”

Nurruby Childcare Centre and Preschool Director Catherine Morgan said the organisation is very grateful and excited to receive this grant.

“This grant, together with community support and parent fundraising, has enabled us to install a 13kW solar system, aimed at reducing power costs, reducing our environmental footprint, and providing education to our children in line with our sustainability curriculum goal,” Ms Morgan said.

“Our solar system was installed just before we closed for Christmas and although it’s too early for us to see the reduced power benefit, we anticipate it will halve our annual power costs, which will be amazing for our not-for-profit service. Already the solar has saved 36 trees.

“The children have already noticed the solar panels on the roof and we are excited to start sharing the solar monitoring app with them so they can start thinking about our power usage and ways that we can work more sustainably in the future.”

Nurruby Children’s Services was one of 10 community groups in the Parkes electorate to receive funding under the $10.2 million Powering Communities Program, which provided each electorate with a total of $67,700 to fund up to 12 small projects.