by Greg Martin

The revered Nelson Mandela hit the nail on the head when he said,“ History will judge us by the difference we make in the everyday lives of children.”

And you’ d be hard-pressed to argue. Early childhood mentoring- both at home and in care settings- plays a vital role in shaping the growth, confidence and wellbeing of our young‘ uns.

Two women who have already proven their passion and expertise in this space are bringing something special to the Hawkesbury, with a new childcare centre set to open in North Richmond.

A warm welcome to Diane Pelle and Rachael Sydir, who are preparing to launch their second Explore & Develop early learning centre.

Importantly, every staff member at the North Richmond centre has been recruited locally, following a rigorous selection process by Diane and Rachael- a big tick for supporting the local community.

The pair will officially open their state-of-the-art centre at 6 Keda Circuit on Saturday, May 16, with a community

open day and market. Anyone interested in hosting a stall can contact Diane or Rachael on 4722 2343.

“ This special event offers families the chance to experience our play-based, childcentred environment,” Diane said.“ Children are supported to explore, discover, create and imagine through meaningful learning experiences.

“ We invite everyone to come and see our beautiful, home-like, purpose-built spaces, meet our experienced educators, and learn how our curriculum is guided by children’ s interests- helping them grow into capable, confident learners.”

Rachael added that families have warmly welcomed the centre’ s flexible approach, which guarantees a choice of attendance days with no minimum requirement a rare offering in today’ s childcare landscape.

Diane brings more than 15 years of experience as the owner and operator of Explore & Develop Penrith, while Rachael complements the partnership with a Master of Early Childhood and two decades of industry experience.

The duo has worked side by side for

over 10 years, formally joining forces in 2019. Alongside her leadership role, Rachael also serves as Explore & Develops Approved Provider.

Together, they’ ve built a reputation for creating nurturing, holistic learning environments that support children’ s development while fostering a strong, collaborative culture among staff and families.

Diane has also made it a priority to embed herself in the local community, joining the Hawkesbury Chamber of Commerce to connect with local businesses and advocate for quality early childhood education.

For both partners, strong relationships sit at the heart of everything they do- whether with children, families, educators or the broader community. They believe these connections are key to delivering the best outcomes for children and ensuring long-term success. Their dedication hasn’ t gone unnoticed. In 2022, Rachael played a key role in Explore & Develop Penrith being named Outstanding Organisation at the HESTA Early Childhood Education & Care Awards,

recognised for innovative programs supporting children’ s mental health and wellbeing.

She was also awarded the Outstanding Graduate Award for her work in strengthening children’ s understanding of Aboriginal culture through the development of a Reconciliation Action Plan.

Passionate about play-based and emergent learning, Diane and Rachael are committed to nurturing curiosity, independence and resilience in every child- while also supporting their team and building strong partnerships with families.

And yes- they truly live and breathe the motto: explore and develop!

The North Richmond centre will cater for three age groups: Nursery( 0 – 2 years), Toddlers( 2 – 3 years) and Preschool( 3 – 5 years).

Each program is carefully designed to ensure children transition smoothly to the next stage- confident, capable and ready to take on what comes next.

For more information, visit exploreanddevelop. com. au / northrichmond.