Fully baked effort for R U OK? Day By Mike Searles* AMIE Simpson is baking cookies in her kitchen in her kitchen to help raise awareness of suicide prevention. Twenty-nine year-old pastry chef Simpson, right, owns Amie Jane's Sweets & Treats and is baking special cookies and treats to help raise money for R U OK? Day, Thursday 8 September. "I'm hoping to sell 500 or so cookies for the charity event. One school has already ordered 200 cookies, so we are off to an encouraging start", Simpson said. She has 12 years’ experience as a pastry chef, including studying pastry cooking in Italy and has a certified commercial kitchen at the home she shares with her husband and their young daughter. "My husband and I have private reasons for supporting the R U OK? Day concept of raising the awareness of mental health and wellness" Simpson said. The non-profit suicide prevention organisation R U OK? was founded in 2009 by advertiser Gavin Larkin following the 1995 suicide of his father, Barry Larkin. The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data shows that around nine lives are lost daily to suicide. According to ABS, there were 3139 recorded deaths in 2020 due to intentional self-harm. For every recorded death there are multiple attempted suicides. There are an estimated 65,000 suicide attempts in Australia each year. It is further estimated that more
PASTRY chef Amie Simpson and her R U OK? cookies.
than 500,000, or about one in every 50 Australians have attempted suicide at some time in their lives. More than 10 million Australian adults are estimated to know someone who has died by suicide, and one in
two young people are affected by suicide by the time they turn 25. Both mental and behavioural disorders and psychosocial risk factors were present in more than two thirds of suicides.
Risk factors for men include: a personal history of self-harm (19.5 per cent of suicides), disruption of family by separation and divorce (14 per cent), and problems in a relationship with a spouse or partner (11.8 per cent). The three most frequently occurring risk factors for women were: a personal history of self-harm (32.8 per cent of suicides), problems in a relationship with a spouse or partner (10.9 per cent), and disappearance or death of a family member (9.7 per cent). Suicide is preventable and to help spread that message the annual R U OK? Day is dedicated to inspiring everyone to have regular, meaningful conversations to support those in our world who may be struggling with life. It advocates people starting a simple conversation with others with the easy to recall question, "Are you OK?”. When asking someone "Are you OK?" we don’t have to take on the responsibility to fix problems or take away their pain, we just need to help them feel supported and help connect them, if needed, to appropriate support. For details about Amie Simpson's baking for charity, visit Amie Jane's Sweets & Treats online or for more about R U OK? Day go to ruok.org.au If you find life tough or need extra support, call Lifeline anytime on 13 11 14. * Mike Searles is an associate of Suicide Prevention Australia.
Six-day hearing for planning protections THE six-day public hearing for the C270Morn planning scheme amendment started on Monday 5 September, with an officer from Mornington Peninsula Shire Council one of the first speakers, followed by Ryman Healthcare on Tuesday. Amendment C270morn proposes to protect the Mornington Peninsula Green Wedge from inappropriate development by rezoning several sites across the shire, including Kunyung Road’s Moondah Mansion site in Mount Eliza which is the subject of a planning bid by Ryman Healthcare. Ryman wants to build a retirement/ aged care cdentre that includes apartments across four new four-storey buildings, and an extension to the existing mansion. If C270Morn is approved, it is unlikely a retirement centre would be permitted on the Kunyung Road site. The planning panel appointed to hear the application will make a decision after hearing from all parties, including the Save Sir Reg’s Wedge community group opposed to the Ryman plan, the Green Wedge Coalition, former shire councillor and SSRW spokesperson Leigh Eustace, and others. Once the panel makes its decision, the matter will return to council, which can either support or reject it. The next step will see Planning Minister Lizzie Blandthorn either support or reject the C270 Morn application. The matter is not expected to go before the minister before the state election. Liz Bell
WHAT’S NEW...
Put your business forward to win a Business Excellence Award IF you’re one of our 15,800 local businesses and need something new and exciting to look forward to, then put yourself forward for a 2022 Mornington Peninsula Business Excellence Award. The awards will showcase a range of local businesses and industries that demonstrate excellence, innovation and sustainability in their field. These awards are the highest honour any business can receive on our Peninsula. Come and be part of the best awards ever! There are nine categories to apply: n Creative Industries n Retail n Tourism n Hospitality n Trade, Building and Construction n Health and Community n Agriculture and Manufacturing n Start Up n Professional Services One deserving category award winner will also be selected as Business of the Year. Whatever the business size, this is a great opportunity for local businesses to participate and celebrate the good things that have come out of a tough couple of years; the adaptation, the resilience, the ingenuity and innovation that many businesses have achieved. The awards offer business owners and operators the chance to gain recognition, create further business opportunities and network with other entrepreneurial businesses. Any business operating in the Mornington Peninsula Shire municipality is eligible to enter. Some points to consider for your entry are:
MORNINGTON PENINSULA BUSINESS AWARDS
Supporting and celebrating local business n How are you connected to your local community? n Have you used innovation in sustainable practices? n How do you provide memorable customer experiences? n What new ideas have you pulled together to address recent challenges? n Where do you demonstrate industry leadership? Applications close 11 September so why not throw your hat into the ring? It’s a short and easy process, and it’s online. The results will be announced at a gala black-tie presentation event on Wednesday 19 October at Mornington Racecourse, when our business community will come together to celebrate the successes many businesses have achieved. To find out more please visit: MPBusiness. com.au/businessawards
mpbusiness.com.au/businessawards
Mornington Peninsula Business
Mornington News
6 September 2022
PAGE 13