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Team work: Jodie Harris and her team are mums who make a difference. Picture: Gary Sissons
Includes round bottom rail.
Helping make season brighter CHRISTMAS is looming and the tireless volunteers at Peninsula Mums for Families in Need are bracing themselves for high demand. The charity service, established by mother-ofthree Jodie Harris, makes Christmas special for disadvantaged people living in the Frankston/ Mornington Peninsula region. In four years, demand for food, clothing and essential goods has grown to such an extent, the charity has been forced to find a new home and now works out of warehouse in Seaford that comes with a large rent bill each month. The volunteers now wrap about 2000 presents and 300 food hampers for families in need every Christmas, which are then distributed by more
Teardrop rail available at extra cost
than 65 charities and welfare agencies. But Ms Harris, who is supported by a crew of volunteers, said donations were always needed, especially at Christmas. “I am getting more and more requests for help, so it never stops and there will always be need in the community,” she said. “But we hope that by providing gifts and food, Christmas will at least be special for everyone in need.” Anyone wanting to help the charity or donate non-perishable food, items suitable for presents, and household essentials can find all the details at msfin.org.au
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Smartphones ‘fuel’ problem gamblers Liz Bell liz@baysidenews.com.au THE popularity of smartphones has fuelled a rise in the number of problem gamblers who now have easy and instant access to online gambling sites, warns a Mornington peninsula counselling service. Alvin Efklidis, of Gamblers Help Southern, has warned that measures to reduce the harm of poker machines are not targeting the growing online sector. “In terms of problem gambling, poker machines are still the biggest form of gambling, but online gambling is rapidly growing and with the technology that’s available to everyone, such as mobile phones, it’s at the fingertips all the time,” he said. “Most people are not aware of just how relentless the online bookmakers are, offering free bets to people who sign up and all sorts of offers and inducements. It’s very worrying.” Gamblers Help Southern, the largest problem gambling service in Victoria, will make a submission to the state government’s just-opened review of gaming machine harm minimisation measures. Mr Efklidis said there was high demand for gambling counselling services in Frankston
and on the Mornington Peninsula, where its “priority target group” of tradies had a “cultural” tendency to head to a drinking venue and gamble after work. But he said that at least 15 per cent of problems gamblers were online gamblers, and that more resources should be directed to reducing the harm of, and easy access to, that form of gambling. Since the smartphone technology was introduced a few years ago, the temptation to gamble was now everywhere. The Victorian Department of Justice and Regulation consultation paper, which focuses on poker machine gambling, is asking for feedback on key areas of reducing gambling harm such as access to cash in gaming venues, cashless gaming and ticket-in, ticket-out systems, selfexclusion programs and regional and municipal limits on gaming machine numbers. Mr Efklidis said an important component of the review was the investigation of the training of venue staff to respond to problematic behaviours. He said some venue operators could “do more” to embrace the concept of responsible gambling and actively promote this within their business. Details: responsiblegambling.vic.gov.au
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*Conditions Apply Selected fabrics and finishes only. All pictures for illustration purposes only. See in store for full details. All quotes expire 23rd December 2016.
est 1997
50 Hartnett Drive, Seaford (Opposite Vic Roads) 9782 4142
19 Treloar Lane, Pakenham (Opposite Pakenham Central) 5940 3866
www.jaleighblinds.com.au Frankston Times 12 December 2016
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