Dubbo Photo News 07.05.2020

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Fletcher Fl F Flet let etch tch cher c her h err IInternationa nter nt erna er nati na tion ti ion onal all Exports Exp xpor ports o tss • Celebrating or Cel eleb leb ebra bra rrating ting ti g 30 30 Years Year a s

THE STORY OF SPECIAL FLETCHERS INSERT

Congratulationss 1

Fletcher

International Exports

COVID-19 KICKSTART

PhotoNews Photo News DUBBO

KEEP SMILING FOR MOTHER’S DAY!

MAY 7-13, 2020 | LOCALLY OWNED & INDEPENDENT | FREE!

A MOTHER’S Comment by JOHN RYAN

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A mother’s unconditional love is often spoken of, but what it really means hit home when Dubbo Photo News visited Mitchell Newman this week. When we walked up to his quiet suburban home we could hear Mitchell from halfway up the driveway. He’s 28 years old and can’t do the simplest things for himself – he’s suffered from severe mental and physical disabilities since he was born. His aunt Debbie Hanlon took him in as a six-week-old baby and, from that time on, she and husband Mark have given Mitchell ‘round-the-clock care. She’s now his mum and has been for what seems like a long lifetime. “It’s very challenging at times, with Mitchell the days are very long but we love him dearly and that’s what we do, you know,” Mrs Hanlon told us as we arranged Mitchell for this photo shoot. I couldn’t begin to imagine the sacrifices and the heartache. It was exhausting for us just doing a simple reporting and photography job, yet we were there for less than an hour and had the safety blanket of knowing we could just walk out

the door. While Mitchell bounces around in his wheelchair, Debbie and Mark have to cuddle him to calm him down and that can turn into a 24/7 operation – it’s a relentless role. “It’s hard for me as I suffer from depression, the days are very long for us and if he’s in a mood it can be very hard,” Mrs Hanlon said. “It’s affected our lives financially, we haven’t been able to work, we don’t get a lot of visitors and it’s very isolated. “He’s ours, we’ve had him since he was a baby, you don’t just take children and then give them away, you’ve got to keep going because that’s what a mother does – we love him very much.” Deborah says Sunday will be a very special day for her and knows that while she’s not Mitchell’s mum, no mother could possibly show him any more love. And as this photograph shows, Mitchell’s love for his ‘mum’ is written all over his face.

THEIR STORY ❱❱ P4

BURRENDONG HITS 20 PER CENT Irrigators must wait: Water supply for towns remains the top priority

BURRENDONG Dam has hit 20.1 per cent capacity, a level it hasn’t reached since November 2018. But whether or not the levels continue to rise – and see irrigators receive an allocation for the first time in two years – remains

to be seen. The State Government says its plans should ensure dam water “is allocated fairly and with town water supply as the top priority”.

FULL STORY ❱ P9

CALL US with your news 6885 4433 | EMAIL photos@dubbophotonews.com.au | www.facebook.com/dubbophotonews


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