Picture: Gary Sissons
Big support for cancer patient A FUNDRAISER for a beloved Mentone man suffering from cancer has raised more than $4000. Brendan Stroud is a captain of Collingwood’s wheelchair football team. He became a paraplegic after a car crash in his 20s. After a terminal cancer diagnosis, Mr Stroud’s friends and supporters worked to make sure he was receiving the support he needed. A gofundme for his family has now raised over $4000. The money will go to Mr Stroud and his partner Natalie, an ICU nurse who left her job to care for her part-
ner full-time. Friend Sharon Witt said “this incredible man has known his fair share of struggles-in his early twenties, after a car accident, Brendan became an incomplete quadriplegic.” “There’s no sugar coating this. After meeting his soulmate at the beginning of 2020, just 8 weeks later Brendan was diagnosed with cancer. It is a horrific disease and he has fought this battle with such strength and courage, that I am often left in awe of his determination.” To donate visit gofundme.com/f/ support-for-brendan-and-nat
BRENDAN Stroud with partner Natalie. Picture: Supplied
‘Record’ interest in council election VOTER turnout in the 2020 Kingston Council election was at a record high. The 2020 local elections were hotly contested, with 73 candidates throwing their hat in the ring. Turnout was high, with nearly 85 per cent of enrolled voters casting a vote. The turnout in the Kingston municipality was higher than the state-
wide average of 81 per cent, and a big improvement on the 2016 local turnout rate of 76 per cent. Kingston mayor Steve Staikos said “the record participation shows just how much our community cares about making Kingston the best place to live, work and play, and in ensuring they have a say in electing a council that will represent them
and their interests. This is a real win for democracy but also shows the trust our community has in us as their elected councillors to deliver the services and invest in community facilities that are important to them.” Eleven councillors were chosen to sit on the expanded council.
Lockdown continues but some students return Brodie Cowburn brodie@baysidenews.com.au VICTORIA’S lockdown has continued into this week. The “circuit breaker” lockdown was due to end at 11.59pm on 3 June, but was extended by a week. There remain five reasons to leave home, shopping for food and supplies, authorised work and study, care and caregiving, exercise, and getting vaccinated. However, some restrictions have been eased heading
into this week. The 5 kilometer travel radius has been expanded to 10 kilometers, VCE students have returned to schools, and some outdoor workers have been authorised to return to their jobs. Acting Premier James Merlino said ”stopping the spread – and getting our whole state back to normal – means knowing the restrictions that apply to you, and sticking to them.” “We’ve seen examples of people who left Melbourne, broke the rules and took the virus with them. We do not want that to happen again,” he
said. “No one wants to be here. And I know this news is tough for every Victorian, every family and every business in this state. But the Chief Health Officer has no choice but to give this advice. And the government has no choice but to follow it. If we don’t, this thing will get away from us and people will die.” As of 7 June there are 94 active cases of COVID-19 in Victoria. There are three active COVID-19 cases in the Kingston municipality. Two are from residents in the postcode 3196, and one in the postcode
3190. An update from the Department of Health on vaccination read “yesterday [6 June] in Victoria 17,719 COVID-19 vaccine doses [were] administered by state-commissioned services. This brings the total number of vaccine doses administered at state-commissioned services to 650,878.” “Forty per cent of all COVID-19 vaccinations in Australia in the past week were administered in Victoria. “Victoria’s five-day vaccination blitz of aged care and disability care workers has been extended until to-
day to ensure as many of these workers as possible get priority access the COVID-19 vaccine. From Wednesday, a vaccination blitz will start for Ambulance Victoria staff, with paramedics, non-emergency patient transport workers and staff offered priority walk-up access. It will run for five days until Sunday 13 June. “Anyone with COVID-19 symptoms, or who is a primary close contact, must not attend a vaccination centre. Go to a testing centre, get a test, and go home until you receive your result.”
Smile Squad is on its way The Victorian Government is making it easier for our kids to get the dental care they need. Find out more at smilesquad.vic.gov.au
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Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News
9 June 2021
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