catrionat

Say no more!

St Arnaud is a reasonably small town, but with excellent facilities including a well stocked library and local swimming pool.
There are excellent doctors and hospital, numerous sporting clubs for children to join, current movies are shown in the town hall.
Most children seem to walk to school. Nights are quiet and neighbours friendly.
St Arnaud has an excellent supermarket and specialist fruiterer and butcher. An attendant, at either of the in town petrol stations, fills your car with fuel and is happy to check your oil, water and tyres and change over windscreen wipers, if necessary.
There are three pubs - all of which serve meals, some of the pubs run their own social club for patrons. There is The Sporting Club, up at the trotting track/football ground that runs a variety of functions including the local Country Music club.
Other shops include haberdashery, ladies clothing, mens clothing, toy shop, sports shop, Chemist, shoe shop, computer and video shop, cafes and bakery, hardware and building supplies - effectively, all you need in right in town. Okay, they do shut at 12 on Saturdays, (except the supermarket which is open Saturday and Sunday) but you learn to organise yourself or wait till Monday.
There are welcoming BBQs for new arrivals in town. There is a Christmas parade every year that local buisnesses and sporting club build and run their own float. The Festival of St Arnaud runs every year for a weekend in November. The St Arnaud show still runs every year, and local children are encouraged to submit entries into a variety of areas (craft, horticulture, design).
There are two primary schools, one Government, one Catholic and one high school.
Transport, without a car is a bit iffy, but most places in town are walking distance or a short taxi ride. St Arnaud is waiting for the passenger line to Mildura to reopen which hopefully will stop in St Arnaud. There are buses to Bendigo & Ballarat, and a community run bus to Ararat.
All in all, St Arnaud is a lovely safe place to raise children.