NEWS DESK
Dentist eases the pain for Ukraine refugee
Peninsula’s towns top property prices
Liz Bell liz@mpnews.com.au
RYE, Mount Martha and Rosebud have been listed as the top three Melbourne towns or suburbs for rising house prices in the March quarter by the Real Estate Institute of Victoria. Rye led the house price growth with a 48 per cent annual increase, bringing the median cost of a homes there to $1.195 million. Mount Martha followed with a 34 per cent annual increase, taking its median house price to $1.87m, while its near neighbour Rosebud grew 32 per cent to $851,121. Units in inner-city suburbs such as Docklands ($555,000) and Melbourne CBD ($580,000) are in the top 20 quarterly growth suburbs while recording median prices under the $600,000. The median house price in Werribee grew 18.7 per cent to $620,000, while Sunbury saw a 16.8 per cent increase to $652,500. Regional Victoria saw a 26.7 per cent annual increase in the median house price ($595,000) and a 3.8 per cent increase ($625,000) in the last quarter. REIV president Adam Docking said the quarterly report showed the metropolitan housing market was “stabilising”. The data showed a 0.3 per cent drop in metropolitan house prices ($1.12m) and a 0.9 per cent decrease in units and apartments ($684,000), the annual median house price rose 18 per cent from $932,500 to $1.1m in the past 12 months. “The Victorian residential market has recorded strong growth for over two years and, as supply catches up with demand, we can expect to see a steadier period,” Docking said. “The data reflects the theme of ongoing migration to the regions, as we see more Melburnians seeking out a scenery change in coastal towns and regional cities”. Keith Platt
WHEN Yulia Voituk fled Ukraine a few weeks ago under an Australian government emergency evacuation scheme, there was little time to do anything more than grab a few belongings. One of 600 Ukrainians to be receive the visa to Australia, Voituk says she feels “safe” in Australia, but is desperate to be with her husband and to again believe in the future. The mother of one was in the middle of a course of extensive dental treatment at the time she was given the opportunity to escape Ukraine and had no choice but to discontinue the treatment and travel in pain without knowing when or if she could have her teeth repaired. In a heart-warming act of generosity and compassion, Ukrainian-born Mornington dentist Slav Vyater has stepped in to welcome Voituk and her two-year-old daughter Anna to their new temporary home, and complete Voituk’s dental work, pro bono. Interpreting for his client, Vyater said Voituk told him she still trembles when she hears planes overhead, and the fear of losing loved ones and her home haunts her. Vyater, who came to Australia as a three-year-old, said he felt compelled to help the young mother, and was glad his practice could be there in her time of need. “It’s a terrible situation for Ukrainians, many women and children had to flee, but husbands and fathers had to stay and could not leave,” he said. “Yulia came to Mornington because she has some family here, but she has no idea of when she can go back or be reunited with her husband. “When I met Yulia she was in pain with her teeth and she needed help, so it was something we were happy to do.” Vyater, who founded Dentistree in Cheltenham and Mornington, said it was important to raise awareness about the plight of the refugees. “Among our patients we are starting to see a few Ukrainian refugees who have fled the country over the last couple of weeks,” he said. “All of them have been mothers with children, while their husbands have been mandated to stay behind … a frightening situation for everyone.” Vyater said that although he had grown up in Australia, his Ukrainian heritage further fuelled his desire to help.
DENTIST Slav Vyater with Ukrainian refugee and client Yulia Voituk and her daughter Anna.
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Mornington News
26 April 2022
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