Chelsea • Mordialloc • Mentone
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Luke Batty’s
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RETIREMENT LIVING ON THE PENINSULA
Page turner: Molly the cat settles down with owner Helen Latham, left, for another thriller delivered by library volunteer Adele Parker. Picture: Gary Sissons
Booklovers share helping hand VOLUNTEER Adele Parker has been delivering library items to Mentone’s Helen Latham for the past five years. Ms Parker, a former librarian, is a member of Kingston Home Library Service’s team who volunteers so she can share her love of books with the community. “Helen loves a good mystery novel so I keep an eye out on the library website or browse the shelves looking for new authors for her to explore,” she said. “We chat about books we’ve enjoyed and encourage one another to try something new. It’s a wonderful service – but we need to spread the word and get more people involved.” The library service’s volunteers deliver books, DVDs, magazines and other items to elderly or ill residents unable to visit their local branch. And they are looking for more people to help. “Community members are matched
with a volunteer who can discuss their interests and suggest new books, DVDs, CDs and more to try,” mayor Cr Geoff Gledhill said. “If you, or someone you know, could use this service then please contact your local library to sign up for this free service.” Items that can be borrowed include large print books, DVDs and Blu-Ray discs, Wii Games, music and talking book CDs, magazines and a wide range of books. Library staff can also explain how to access the many eBooks, eAudio books and online magazines available through the Library website. To find out more about the Home Library Service, or to join the volunteer team, call 1300 135 668. For those who still like to visit their local library, but require some assistance, Kingston’s community bus service offers fortnightly transport to the Chelsea, Cheltenham or Parkdale libraries. Find out if you are eligible by calling 9581 4876.
A CORONER’S inquest into the death of Tyabb boy Luke Batty – and the circumstances leading up to the tragedy – has found that it could not have been predicted. Judge Ian Gray said in a 111-page finding released on Monday that the 11-year-old’s death “was not reasonably foreseeable by anyone – including his mother, Rosie Batty”. But Mr Gray noted that circumstances leading up to the event were exacerbated by “a failure to engage [his father Greg] Anderson in the family violence system and make him accountable for his actions”. He also stated: “Luke’s death, from the practicable point of view, was not preventable from the time he entered the cricket nets to practice with his father.” The Flinders Christian Community College boy was killed by Mr Anderson after cricket training at Tyabb reserve in February last year – an event described by the Coroner as the “tragic death of a young life full of promise”. Mr Anderson was shot by police and died later in hospital. Mrs Batty was at the ground at the time and, after querying her son as to his feelings about being left alone with his father, agreed later she “knew he never believed his dad would ever hurt him, by physically hurting him”. She said she supported Luke having a relationship with his father. Mr Gray found that Mr Anderson had murdered his son, and that the death was preceded by years of fam-
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Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News 30 September 2015
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