That was the immediate response from Holly Nelson after learning her organisation, Kyabram’s Aussie Kindies Early Learning Centre, was named the best child centre in a competition run by the Herald Sun.
‘‘You had to be nominated by a family and Shynarla West and her family nominated us,’’ the Kyabram facility manager said.
‘‘There was a voting system to get the winner and we were lucky to get enough votes to take off the award.’’
The field was pruned down to a final five before Kyabram was announced the winner.
Kyabram’s Aussie Kindies, part of a large Queensland-based company called Affinity Education Group, received the most votes from readers, pipping Cobram’s Bluebird facility for the award.
‘‘It’s beautiful to watch the connections our educators have with the kids and their families,’’ Ms Nelson said.
She believes it’s the long-serving staff that makes the Kyabram facility so unique.
‘‘We have over 20 staff and they all do a mighty job, so it was very rewarding to be honoured like this.’’
Ms Nelson, well known for her sporting prowess, has managed the Unwin St facility since 2019.
She said her centre currently had 120 children — aged from six months to six — on the books and a waiting list almost as long, which is evidence that families are more than happy with the care given by the hardworking and conscientious staff.
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