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Editor: Neil Walker 0431 932 041 Journalists: Liz Bell, Stephen Taylor, Neil Walker 5973 6424 Photographers: Gary Sissons, Yanni Dellaportas Advertising Sales: Anton Hoffman 0411 119 379 Real Estate Account Manager: Jason Richardson 0421 190 318 Production and graphic design: Maria Mirabella, Marcus Pettifer Group Editor: Keith Platt 0439 394 707 Publisher: Cameron McCullough REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS: Peter McCullough, Stuart McCullough, Andrew “Toe Punt” Kelly, Craig MacKenzie ADDRESS: Mornington Peninsula News Group PO Box 588 Hastings 3915 Email: team@baysidenews.com.au Web: baysidenews.com.au DEADLINE FOR NEXT ISSUE: 1PM ON THURSDAY 5 JANUARY NEXT ISSUE PUBLICATION DATE: MONDAY 9 JANUARY 2017 Special care: Children with special needs will not miss out with this Santa. Picture: Gary Sissons
Santa sleighs ’em with sensitivity An independent voice for the community We are the only locally owned and operated community newspaper in Frankston City and on the Mornington Peninsula. We are dedicated to the belief that a strong community newspaper is essential to a strong community. We exist to serve residents, community groups and businesses and ask for their support in return.
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Frankston Times 19 December 2016
SPECIAL ‘Sensitive Santa’ sessions are being held at the Carrum Downs Lyrebird Community Centre to cater for autistic and other special needs children. Sensitive Santa, also known as John Zammit, said the bright lights and excited sounds which are usually some of the most-loved features of Christmas, could be frightening and confusing for autistic children. “Having seen the way some children get scared of the usual Santa photo sittings, which can be overwhelming, I thought we should do a Santa sitting that is more low-
key and meets the needs of those families,” he said. Mr Zammit said the service allows families with a child on the autism spectrum to have a photo with Sensitive Santa in a private space in the centre’s cockatoo room, without the usual hustle and bustle of crowds and queues. A portion of photo fees are donated to Autism Spectrum Australia.