NEWS DESK
Conquered cancer cause for centre celebration Cameron McCullough cameron@baysidenews.com.au THE Gateway shopping centre in Langwarrin is turning pink to raise much needed funds for Breast Cancer Network Australia. The week-long event, running from 29 April until 5 May, will see stores in the centre turning pink, a barbeque and raffle tickets being sold. The event was inspired by Sally Bell, who works at McKays Quality Meats in the centre, and her recent battle with breast cancer. “I was the fittest I’d been for ten years, and feeling fantastic, when I got the shock call after my regular mammogram,” said Mrs Bell. “Follow up testing showed I had early stage cancer in my breast. While everybody else was celebrating on New Years Eve, I was having a breast and my ovaries removed!” The mother of three was off work for four weeks, recovering from the surgery. “When I got back to work, my boss said he wanted to do something in recognition of my battle with cancer.” Brett Thompson, the owner of McKays Quality Meats at The Gateway, originally envisaged turning his business pink, and placing a tin on the counter. But things quickly escalated when the centre’s management caught wind of his idea. Soon, the plan had changed to turn the entire centre pink. During the week, raffle tickets are being sold by The Gateway ‘walking group’ with the over $4000 of prizes
A new life: Sally Bell is looking forward to life after cancer, including spending time with her newly arrived grand daughter, Evie-Mae. Picture: Andrew Hurst
donated by the centre’s retailers. Prizes include a signed and framed jumper from the Sydney Swans, a year’s membership to Jetts Fitness, more than $600 worth of gift cards from different stores, a children’s bike from Stockdale and Leggo plus much more. There will also be a sausage sizzle on the Saturday with the CFA.
The prizes will be drawn Sunday 5th May at 11am. As for Mrs Bell, she is “tickled pink” at the event, and hopes it raises awareness and funds for Breast Cancer Network Australia. “I really was one of the lucky ones. The care I got at Frankston Hospital was amazing, and I am now back to full health.
“I am extremely grateful to Brett for all the support he gave me while I was ill, and now I have beaten this, nothing is going to hold me back,” Mrs Bell is hopeful her story will raise awareness of breast cancer and educate other women. “It just drives home to me how important those regular screenings are. If I had put my mammogram off, my outcome could have been totally different. The message is clear for other women. Go and get your screening. Don’t even think about putting it off!” Breast cancer is the most common cancer affecting Australian women. In 2019 it is estimated that 19,535 Australians will be diagnosed with breast cancer – this includes 150 men. This works out to be 53 Australians diagnosed each day. Breast Cancer Network Australia supports, informs and connects Australians affected by breast cancer. They have a range of resources to help people through their breast cancer journey and make decisions that are the best for them, They hold information forums across the country, run an online network for those affected by breast cancer, and a phone support line. Anyone who has been affected by breast cancer can call the BCNA Helpline on 1800 500 258 or visit www.bcna.org.au for information and support.
Hard rubbish collection dates locked in Brodie Cowburn brodie@baysidenews.com.au EIGHTEEN months on from their last annual hard rubbish collection, Frankston Council have confirmed the dates for their next collection. The collection service will run from late April and continue through until June. The mayor Michael O’Reilly said “council appreciates that the change to the timing of the regular hard rubbish collection has been frustrating for some residents. While the citywide hard rubbish collection has previously taken place progressively throughout October and November, the annual service will begin in late April and residents will be notified
two weeks ahead of their collection period.” “The hard rubbish collection was moved later in the financial year because a November collection would cost council an extra $500,000. Council felt the additional $500,000 was an unreasonable use of ratepayer funds, which would be better spent on providing other services to the community,” he said. “The service will be the same service as offered in previous years and more information can be found on the council website. It should be noted that not all items are collected by the same truck, to help maximise the diversion from landfill. For example, green waste and hard waste will be collected by different trucks, pos-
sibly on different days.” Council’s hard rubbish collection service, which usually takes place during October, was delayed last year after the process was put out to tender. The mayor at the time Colin Hampton said “the tender process commenced in early 2018 to align with the completion of the last contract extension ending at the start of October. Council was seeking a competitive market of service providers, however, unfortunately there continues to be a shortage of providers that can offer annual municipal-wide hard waste collections.” “We realise this is a substantial change to the usual timing of the hard waste collection, however council
had to make this change due to the availability of the service provider,” he said. (“Hard rubbish delay with fine threat”, The Times, 24/09/18) Council agreed to continue their agreement with their previously contracted service provider, but a scheduling conflict had come up that resulted in the six month delay. Residents who put out their hard rubbish during the regular October period were threatened with fines of up to $17,000 for illegal dumping. Hard rubbish put out for collection should not exceed 1 metre in height and 2 metres in length. Dates of pickup can be found at: frankston.vic.gov.au/Our_Community/Maps_Online_-_My_Address
Headspace trial to help find employment HEADSPACE in Frankston will host an “individual placement and support” trial until 2021. The program is designed to young people struggling with mental health problems gain employment by teaching them skills and giving them job coaching. The trial at Frankston is supported by $585,000 in funding from the federal government. Frankston is among 10 new trail sites around the country for the program. Dunkley MP Chris Crewther announced the “budgeted” funding last week. He said “the trial targets vulnerable young people with mental illness up to the age of 25, who are at risk of disengaging from education or employment, and are at risk of long term welfare dependency.” “As many as one-in-four young Australians aged 16 to 24 experience mental illness in any given year and, sadly, Frankston is not immune,” Mr Crewther said. “It is great that young people in Frankston will receive a range of support such as job coaching, assistance navigating community support services and Centrelink systems, targeted education or employment opportunities, and on the job support. They will also receive application assistance and interview techniques that will make a huge difference in the success of their future employment opportunities. “Since the trial first launched on 1 November 2016, the results have been very promising. Of the 879 participants who were in the trial to April 2018, 438 achieved an education or employment placement.” Try a trial: Social services minister Paul Fletcher visited headspace in Frankston to announce funding for a trial to help people find employment. Picture: Supplied
Frankston Times
23 April 2019
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