NEWS DESK
Pool and spa checks POOLS and spas safety checks are being offered by Frankston Council across the municipality. Council officers will be contacting pool owners to ensure barriers are in place to prevent access by children. The most common non-compliance areas include gates that do not selfclose or self-lock, unmaintained pool boundary fences and climbable objects placed against pool fences. “I encourage all pool and spa owners who have doubts about their fence or barrier to contact council to arrange an inspection.” Victorian Building Regulations require compliance for all pools and spas exceeding 30 centimetres in depth, which also includes inflatable and tem-
porarily erected pools. The pools are required to comply with both Victorian Legislation and Australian Standards. New pool fencing safety barriers also need a building permit prior to installation and a Certificate of Final Inspection from either a private building surveyor or council when works are completed. There are about 4500 pools and spas registered with council. Pool gates should never be left or propped open and children should be supervised by a responsible adult at all times around a pool or spa. See frankston.vic.gov.au/poolsandspas or call council on 1300 322 322 to arrange for a free safety inspection by council officers.
Calling all hospital drivers Sorted: Members of Mt Eliza Rotary Club sorting through donated goods for Saturday’s garage sale are, from left, Janet Richards, Janice Green, Linda Morris, Jill Walker and Carolyn Such. Picture: Yanni
Garage sale for community COLLECTING and sorting goods for sale has been keeping members of Mt Eliza Rotary Club busy for weeks. The culmination of their efforts to raise money for community projects comes this Saturday (8 April) with the club’s annual garage sale. It will be the seventh year the club has sold goods donated by households from across the Mornington Peninsula and some Melbourne suburbs.
The first part of the operation involved collecting the donated goods and then sorting and storing. Items come from families moving house, down-sizing or parting with possessions they no longer require. Categories of goods include artworks, books, bric-a-brac, kitchenware, tools, toys and games, sporting equipment, light furniture, clothes, plants and gardening implements.
“There will be thousands of items at bargain prices and I want to stress that all profits from this event will go direct to Rotary supported community projects-many in the youth area,” Mt Eliza Rotary president George Ann Sullivan said. The garage sale runs 8am-3pm Saturday 8 April at Peninsula Grammar (formerly The Peninsula School), Wooralla Drive, Mt Eliza. Free entry.
THE Bays Hospital, Mornington, is looking for volunteer drivers to help patients get to hospital. “While family and friends transport most patients to and from medical appointments, some have to rely on public transport, have limited mobility or are too unwell to drive themselves,” nursing director Anita Woods said. “Our two patient transport vehicles, both donated by Bernie Taylor of the Grand Hotel Mornington, are enabling nursing staff to be increasingly mobile and reach patients in the community to provide better care.” Ms Woods said the vehicles enables the hospital’s prostate cancer specialist nurse and breast care nurse to counsel and support patients in their own homes.
She said The Bays wanted to establish a volunteer patient transport program. “Patient transport volunteers provide companionship and support to people who would otherwise find it difficult to attend medical appointments. “The patient transport program is a lifeline for patients who have no other way of getting to and from our hospital.” Ms Woods said volunteer drivers could elect to drive mornings or afternoons. “On average, drivers would volunteer for one four-hour shift a week.” Anyone interested in being a patient transport volunteer can call The Bays volunteer coordinator on 5970 5308 or email volunteer@thebays.com.au
Frankston Times 3 April 2017
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