A GROUP of mothers have opened a centre in Kellyville for hearing-impaired children, after they refused to give up on therapy services for their offspring.

The Hear The Mums group, led by Yvonne Keane, recently opened their Hear Their Children early intervention centre after weeks of hard work.

``As exhausting as it has been, we feel a great sense of accomplishment,'' Mrs Keane said.

The group will rent the premises for $100 a week from Dawn and Daryl Brown, owners of Treasure Island Early Learning Centre.

The opening marks a new stage in a tireless campaign waged by the group since October, when they found out the St Gabriel's early intervention centre was to close in December.

St Gabriel's has since opened for children with disabilities, including Down syndrome and autism.

The mothers wanted their children to continue to receive audio-verbal therapy, which was pioneered by St Gabriel's.

The therapy teaches children how to listen with hearing aids and Cochlea implants (instead of lip reading or signing) and speak.

The group

has also enlisted the help of co-editor of the St Gabriel's Curriculum, therapist Charmaine Mercer-Moseley.

The group needs $200,000 to operate the centre each year and has received $40,000 in corporate sponsorship and $44,550 in Intervention Support Program funding from the Department of Education. They also raised $4000 from a movie night.

To help, visit www.hearthechildren.org.au.