september 21 - 27 | 2016
regional extra >>> 25,000 readers every week
north east
north east jobs www.wangarattachronicle.com.au
inside page 7
circulating in wangaratta, myrtleford, bright, mt beauty, beechworth, yackandandah, rutherglen, chiltern and districts
Family care for local kids By ANITA McPHERSON
CARING TOGETHER:
Foster carer Tracey Martino (left) has appreciated the support and training provided by Upper Murray Family Care staff including Jeanine Aughey, while her family provides a home for children in need.
TECH & SCIENCE WITH
CHRIS
RSPCA
FILM
STELLA
STORKS
WITH
WINE TALK WITH
ANITA
LOCAL families are opening their homes and their hearts to children in the community who are in need of a safe place to stay for the night, the week or until they’re ready to tackle the adult world. They’re among the 106 households in the North East and the Upper Murray region working with Upper Murray Family Care (UMFC) to provide emergency, respite, short and long term care to kids from birth to their teens. UMFC’s Jeanine Aughey said there is a misconception in the community that carers need to be in a relationship, have had children, or own their own home, but the truth was they could come from all walks of life. She said they could be single, studying, retired or renting, and with the organisation receiving more than 246 referrals in the first six months of this year, new carers were greatly needed. “The greater diversity of carers we have, the more likely we are to be able to find a match to suit the child’s needs and the carer’s circumstances,” she said. Wangaratta resident Tracey Martino has only been involved with the foster care program for the last 18 months but her family is already experiencing the benefits. Tracey offered to care for children aged from birth to seven, because she has three children of her own in the same age group. It’s something she and her husband had thought about even before starting their own family, so when the time was right they decided to give it a go. “I’m at home now with my younger ones and we thought we’d like to somehow give back to the community and help children in need – and there are a lot of them,” she said. continued page |
3
Essentials Variable Rate Home Loan with 3 Year Intro Discount
3.88 3 Yr Variable 4.36
Comparison
Experience the WAW Home Loan Difference wawcu.com.au 1300 368 555 HOME LOANS
LOANS
SAVINGS & INVESTMENTS
TRANSACTIONAL CARDS
INSURANCE
FINANCIAL PLANNING
*Terms & Conditions apply. Comparison rate is based on a secured owner occupied loan of $150,000 over 25 years. WARNING: Comparison rate is only true for the example given & may not include all fees, charges & waivers. Different terms, fees or other loan amounts may result in a different comparison rate. At the end of the 3 year introductory period, the loan reverts to the normal Essentials Variable rate currently 4.48% p.a. (4.52% p.a. comparison rate). Essentials Variable rate loans are only available for owner occupied properties and are only offered for new loans to WAW. Australian Credit Licence 247298. ABN 4808 765 787.