Lions back rural aged care

LIONS clubs across Australia have thrown their support behind a Wedderburn move to give elderly people in access to care in local rural communities.

The international service club’s Australian convention has adopted the policy that people have access to affordable care when they are unable to care for themselves at home.

Wedderburn Lions put forward the proposal as it continues a 12year campaign for an aged care facility in the town.

Chair of the club’s aged care project committee Jude Raftis said: “The policy approval means that Wedderburn Lions are another step closer to being able to conduct a national survey of all Lions clubs to establish the level of aged care in the towns they represent. In particular, this will be very useful having this information for rural areas.

“The collation of this data will provide a lens through which Lions can determine the need for aged care across the country.

“Wedderburn Lions has long argued that the lack of aged care in Wedderburn is as much a national problem as a local one and it is considered that this data will prove this correct.

“In turn, we will have the evidence to approach federal and state politicians to lobby for change. It is anticipated that a number of other Lions clubs may also come on board once they become aware of the situation in their communities.”

Wedderburn Lions met with Ripon MP Martha Haylett during last November’s election campaign for a review of funding options for aged care in country communities and changes to transferring care packages from home services to supported residential services.

Jude said: “The political situation at present, as advised by Martha Haylett’s office, is that she is still awaiting information from the relevant state and federal ministers.

“Wedderburn Lions will continue to advocate on behalf of our elderly for appropriate aged care within our community as a basic human right,” she said.

Man in custody after thefts, overnight police hunt

POLICE have arrested a man after an overnight search sparked by an alleged attempted theft.

The overnight search by police in the Bridgewater area from last Thursday afternoon later saw a man, 33, arrested in the Hamilton area.

Senior Constable Mick Balazs said: “A lady had come home about 3.15 p.m. on Thursday. As she walked towards the house she disturbed a male in her rear yard who decamped.

“Police attended and located his vehicle at the nearby Ampol service station and we seized this vehicle.

“The male was unable to be located and we believe he left the scene with an unknown other party. Later that same evening police believe the male was caught on CCTV at another property about 5km out of town.”

Senior Constable Balazs said a search was conducted with extra police patrols coming from Castlemaine and Maryborough overnight.

“It is suspected that the offender has then stolen a car some time overnight from an unoccupied rural property near where he was caught on CCTV,” he said.

Senior Constable Balazs said the man had been remanded in custody.

New deadline

THE State Government on Tuesday announced an extension for grant applications under its primary producer flood recovery package. The new deadline for assistance up to $75,000 is July 13.

Appeal total

MORE than $2800 has been raised by Wedderburn-Korong Vale RSL sub-branch through the sale of ANZAC tokens this year. Treasurer Owen Rule said the appeal had been supported by groups and businesses including Wedderburn College, Wedderburn Community House, Wedderburn News and General Store, 24 Karat Cafe and staff at Loddon Shire offices.

CFA leader farewelled FIRE brigade volunteers gathered in Pyramid Hill and Inglewood on Tuesday to view the funeral service of former District 20 operations manager Peter Taylor who died in Queensland after battling cancer.

Calivil fire volunteers. You are the lifeblood of the Loddon and we are all so grateful for your

LOCAL firefighters extinguished a burning spreader truck engine on Prairie West road at Calivil on Monday. They were later called back to the scene when a passing motorist reported the vehicle, waiting for a tow truck to arrive, was a hazard.

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