WHAT’S NEW
Time the essence in stroke treatment
Amazing stories in Australian Aviation History THE company, Legends of the Skies Inc. is a not for profit company formed in 2013 with the specific intention of bringing heroic aviation stories of adventure and national defence to public attention. This innovative theatrical enterprise performs at the National Australian Aviation Museum in Moorabbin. Well researched short plays are written by authors from the local community ,as well as enthusiastic wider community aficionados. They are presented inside the museum itself – a huge hangar, housing enormous displays including one of only two intact Beaufighters still in existence. Fun audience sing a longs guide the audience through the museum as the plays are presented . The cast, artistically led by Maggie Morrison
with Jim Williams as Producer, range from 8 to 80. Past productions have included stories about Harry Hawker, Bert Hinkler, the prelude to the terrible Sandakan death marches in Borneo, the Beaufighter plane, Kingsford Smith, the origin of the Royal Flying Doctor Service, the Sugar Bird Lady and the naming of Robinvale. Series 6 of this theatrical work features Sir Douglas Bader, Nancy Bird Walton, and how war came to Australia. Fact, fun, music and technicals all contrive to keep alive names, places and exploits which should never be forgotten. The Australian National Aviation Museum is at Cnr. Second Av. & First St. Moorabbin Airport. Tickets are available through trybooking.com.au.
Dodged a bullet: Ian Thompson says he was lucky to be treated in the 45-minute stroke “window”. Picture: Supplied
MORNINGTON father-of-three Ian Thompson felt his head go “cloudy”, couldn’t think straight and became disoriented; to make matters worse, he began to lose his vision. Although the 64-year-old did not know it at the time, he was having a stroke. “After meeting other stroke survivors I feel lucky, as if I had dodged a bullet,” he said last week. “Thankfully, the staff at Frankston Hospital’s emergency department recognised the signs and responded so quickly.” The stroke hit while he was working on his arrows at Frankston Archery Club. “I was using this new solvent to repair the arrows and it’s really volatile stuff,” he said. “It was after I’d had a whiff that my head started to go all funny, so I put it down to that. I knew something was wrong but I couldn’t even walk into the club house – I didn’t know where it was. I didn’t know how to use my phone to call my wife. All I could do was sit there.” At 4.30pm that day the clock had started ticking to save Mr Thompson’s life and limit the effects of the stroke. Mr Thompson’s archery club mates could see something was badly wrong, so they took him home to his wife Sandra. She took one look at him and brought him straight to the emergency department. By the time he arrived staff had just 45 minutes to diagnose the stroke, determine what had caused it and administer the lifesaving clot-busting medication. “They found I had two blockages – one on the right side, which was the
part that affects eyesight, and one at the top of the spinal cord,” Mr Thompson explained. “They were working really hard with the fourhour window to give me the clot buster. I ended up getting it with 20 minutes to go – so I was lucky.” After a few nights in hospital, Mr Thompson was able to go home and onto the stroke detours program. “My sight is still recovering so they taught me really practical things for coping with that, such as how to get my bearings back. For example, they’d drive me down to the local shops and then I had to direct them home.” Frankston Hospital’s emergency department clinical director Dr Shyaman Menon said a stroke occurred when the blood supply to the brain was interrupted. “Blood is carried to the brain by arteries which contain the oxygen and nutrients brain cells need,” she said. “Without this, brain cells die.” Although brain cells usually die soon after the stroke starts, some can last a few hours if the blood supply is not cut off completely. “This is why it is so important people get to the emergency department as soon as possible so medication can be administered to save these cells,” Dr Menon said. While still recovering from the effects of the stroke, Mr Thompson is back caravanning and spending time with his grandchildren. Peninsula Health is urging people to fast track access to emergency stroke care, close to home, by donating to donations.peninsulahealth.org.au or by calling 9788 1284.
Legends of the Skies: Series 6 is coming soon to the Australian National Aviation Museum.
Legends OF THE SKIES
Theatrical cameos of major events in Australian aviation history. This year includes: • Nancy Bird, this is your life • Sir Douglas Bader – Dogsbody? • War comes to the lucky country PERFORMED AT AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL AVIATION MUSEUM CNR. Second Av. & First St. Moorabbin Airport
Community groups granted funds ISAACS MP Mark Dreyfus has recommended a total of $150,000 in grants for local community groups in the latest round of the Stronger Communities Program. This small grants program enables local community groups to purchase equipment or build local infrastructure on a matched funding basis. “I was very pleased to recommend funding for these 20 local organisations. All of these projects will be of high value to our community,” Mr Dreyfus said. “There is great diversity in the Isaacs community and that has shone through here, with grants recommended for sporting clubs, community centres, men’s sheds and pre-schools, to name just a few. I congratulate these groups and wish them the very best in their projects.” Mr Dreyfus recommended 20 grants for approval by the Department of Business, including $18,000 for Mordialloc-Braeside Junior
Football Club, $18,000 for Parkdale Cricket Club the new Gerry Green Reserve pavilion, and $16,000 for Cheltenham Youth Club for a new IT system. Aspendale Scout Group, Carrum Downs Football Club, Mordialloc Neighbourhood House, Hawthorn Kingston Cricket Club, and Dingley Men’s Shed, Chelsea Little Athletics, and Chelsea Heights Community Centre were also among those recommended for grants of over $5000. Keysborough Bowls Club, Aspendale Lifesaving Club, Chelsea Heights Scout Group, Parkmore Junior Football Club, Edithvale Preschool, Chelsea Care Works, U3A Kingston, Carrum Indigenous Nursery, Edithvale Bowls Club, and Aspendale North Kinder were recommended grants of up to $5000.
Evening performances, starting at 8.00pm Thursday 11th, Friday 12th, Saturday 13th October Thursday 18th, Friday 19th, Saturday 20th October
Matinees, starting at 12:30pm Tuesday 16th and Wednesday 17th October
PURCHASE TICKETS AT www.trybooking.com/book/event?eid=382961 Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News
26 September 2018
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