dŚĞ DŽŽĚ KĨ ^ƵŵŵĞƌ Exhibition of new works by Wendy Grace, Arja Valimaki, Belinda Rogers and Stewart Westle.
džŚŝďŝƚŝŽŶ ƌƵŶƐ ϮϴƚŚ EŽǀĞŵďĞƌ ƚŽ ϭϳƚŚ ĞĐĞŵďĞƌ
Present day supporters: Woodworkers of the Southern Peninsula president John Bayliss, left, with John Parrent, Good Shepherd Foundation’s Mandy Petry, Community Bank senior manager Gary Sanford, secretary Greg Millar, Southern Peninsula Food for All’s Ken Northwood, Rosebud Salvation Army Corp’s Russell Butcher, Westernport Giving Program’s Mike O’Grady.
Carving out Christmas cheer By Barry Irving OVER the past 20 years, Woodworkers of the Southern Peninsula have made and hand finished more than 20,000 toys for non-profit groups to help needy families all over the peninsula. Of the 80 expert woodworkers, 20 specialise in making toys. They spend each Wednesday at the shed and then many hours at home finishing off their inspired creations. The Community Bank has sponsored both the raw materials and, also, renovations at the shed, enabling the team to make more than 1200 toys this year. These will go to Good Shepherd Australia/ New Zealand, Rosebud Salvation Army Corp, Southern Peninsula Food for All and Westernport Giving Program.
The woodworkers also offer a range of skills, such as wood turning and furniture making, as well as the toy division. Programs at the shed include: Mondays – classes in wood turning and furniture making, Tuesdays – all-day woodturning, Wednesdays – all-day toy manufacture, Thursday evenings – furniture making, and Friday mornings – wood turning. New members are welcome to learn new skills in a friendly group with experienced instructors. Donations of raw materials and non-lead-based paints are welcome. Details: Secretary Greg Millar, 0410 280 695.
Groups benefit thanks to banks IN a case of the community helping itself, Rye, Dromana and Rosebud Community Bank branches have donated $259,641 to community groups on the southern peninsula this financial year. The figure was announced, Wednesday, at the Rye & District Community Financial Services annual meeting at the Tootgarook Primary School hall. And that’s a story in itself: the hall was only made possible by the financial group’s approval of a $300,000 loan to build it eight years ago. Now, it is used by the school and other groups. Those at the meeting could see first-hand the benefits to residents of community banking, as 79 groups were told they would collectively receive $166,489 to assist with events and activities. The money is included in the first round of
this year’s sponsorship and grants funding, held every six months, with the second round of applications closing in March. Ongoing funding on top of this, up to the end of October, is $92,152. Retiring chairman and director Shane McCarthy helped form a steering committee which opened the Rye Community Bank branch in 2001. Since then the group has amassed more than $550 million in “footings” (loans and deposits) and helped fund community projects of more than $5.5 million, while paying $1.5 million to shareholders. This is in line with the locally owned company’s franchise agreement with Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Ltd, which ensures it pays 80 per cent of profits back to the community. Barry Irving
Medicentre’s end a sore point AN after-hours medical centre at Frankston Hospital will shut its doors for the last time later this month amid claims federal funding cuts are to blame. The Labor state government says the axing of $100,000 in annual federal funding has forced Medicentre, a privately owned after-hours general practice that bulk bills more than 10,000 consultations a year, to shut up shop. “The Medicentre’s location in Frankston Hospital allows our community to utilise a number of facilities such as radiology and pathology, which would otherwise be inaccessible after hours,” Frankston Labor MP Paul Edbrooke said. “It is a very busy, very popular option for families and also takes the strain off our Emergency Department.” Federal Dunkley Liberal MP Bruce Billson said the Medicentre board had decided to “cease trading” on 29 November. He said the board made its decision after consultation with the South Eastern Melbourne Primary Health Network. “It seems to be a bit of politicking from state Labor about a service they don’t put a dollar of cash into,” Mr Billson said.
“The Medicentre’s board took the decision to discontinue rather than transition to a more sustainable model.” The Mornington Peninsula & Frankston Medicentre opened in 1986 to provide general practice services to patients and ease pressure on GPs having to always be on 24/7 call. Mr Billson hoped “an alternative model” could be put in place at Frankston Hospital. He said he will speak to Peninsula Health and the South Eastern Melbourne Primary Health Network to see whether there is market interest in another provider stepping in to provide after-hours GP services at Frankston Hospital. He said “financial incentives” are available to any GP who also runs a day practice. Mr Billson said Medicentre had been offered interim funding “to ease the transition” but the board had decided to close the after-hours general practice with almost immediate effect. Mr Edbrooke laid the blame for Medicentre’s closure squarely at the federal government. “Taking away our communities healthcare as a result of federal government cuts is unacceptable.” Neil Walker
ŽŶƚĞŵƉůĂƚŝŶŐ ͚dŚĞ DŽŽĚ KĨ ^ƵŵŵĞƌ͛ ůĞĂĚƐ ƚŽ thoughts of shimmering warm days, a sense that relaxing times are ahead, with these peaceful moments interspersed with fun, family and friends. EĞǁ ĞdžŚŝďŝƚŝŽŶƐ ůĂƵŶĐŚŝŶŐ ĞǀĞƌLJ ϯ ǁĞĞŬƐ ĚƵƌŝŶŐ ^ƵŵŵĞƌ͘
All works can be previewed online manyunggallery.com.au 113 Ocean Beach Rd, Sorrento P: 97872953 or 0412770055 Southern Peninsula News 24 November 2015
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