By Corey Everitt
Alongside Officer’s new park, Pakenham’s next childcare centre has received an official name, meaning ‘butterfly’, the new Pakenham facility is now called the Boollam Boollam Child and Family Centre.
Councillors endorsed the naming of the previously interim-named Thewlis Integrated Child and Family Centre at the latest council meeting on Monday 19 August, after the new name came out as the most popular within community consultation.
Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation provided three names of Indigenous significance to Cardinia Shire Council; ‘Boollam Boollam’ meaning ‘butterfly’, ‘Benup’ meaning ‘white gum’ and Nearkey Biik meaning ‘take care of Country’.
Boollam Boollam received the most support from the community.
To Bunurong people, it represents ‘growth, development, and change’ symbolically aligned with the butterfly’s transformation.
The new centre will cater for 132 kinder placements within 4 kindergarten rooms and will accommodate maternal and child health services with additional spaces.
Boollam Boollam Child and Family Centre is set to be completed by December this year and ready for operation by January 2025.
It will operate close to the new Pakenham North West Primary School (interim name) which is set to open term 1 2025.
