Southern Peninsula
Proudly published by Mornington Peninsula News Group Pty. Ltd
PHONE: 03 5974 9000 Published weekly
Circulation: 22,870
Audit period: Apr 2018 - Sept 2018
Source: AMAA; CAB Total Distribution Audit for further information visit auditedmedia.org.au
Journalists: Liz Bell, Brodie Cowburn 5974 9000 Photographers: Gary Sissons, Yanni Advertising Sales: Ricky Thompson 0425 867 578 or ricky@mpnews.com.au Real Estate Account Manager: Jason Richardson 0421 190 318 Production/Graphic design: Marcus Pettifer, Dannielle Espagne Group Editor: Keith Platt 0439 394 707 Publisher: Cameron McCullough REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS: Craig MacKenzie, Peter McCullough, Stuart McCullough, Ben Triandafillou ADDRESS: Mornington Peninsula News Group, PO Box 588 Hastings 3915 Email: team@mpnews.com.au Web: mpnews.com.au DEADLINE FOR NEXT ISSUE: 1PM ON THURSDAY 14 JULY 2022 NEXT ISSUE PUBLICATION DATE: WEDNESDAY 20 JULY 2022
An independent voice for the community We are the only locally owned and operated community newspaper on the Mornington Peninsula. We are dedicated to the belief that a strong community newspaper is essential to a strong community. We exist to serve residents, community groups and businesses and ask for their support in return.
NEWS DESK
OAM for community helper Liz Bell liz@mpnews.com.au SOMERVILLE resident Brenda Thornell has spent her life doing things for her community, but recognition for that has come as a bit of a “shock”, said the 88-year-old. Thornell has been awarded an Order of Australia Medal for her service to the community of the Mornington Peninsula. “I certainly didn’t expect this, I just got involved in things because that’s what you do in small communities,” she said. “When you live in a small town all your life, you know everyone, and you help everyone out if you can. “I didn’t think about it much, I just did. “I remember one of the first things I got involved in for the community was the push to get a basketball court for Somerville, but back when netball was called basketball, “And then when I got married in the 1955, the basketball girls formed a guard of honour at my wedding, it really was lovely.” Thornell has been involved with the Somerville, Tyabb and District Heritage Society since 1966 and has been secretary since 1997. Her late husband George was a builder and, after he semi-retired from building and in 1963 they opened a hardware store in Somerville to service the growing population and provide the materials for all the new houses going up.
BRENDA Thornell “When I was a girl Somerville only had a couple of hundred people, but later lots of people moved and there was nowhere to buy hardware, so that’s what we did and we got to know a lot of new families through it,” she said. Thornell also formed a choir with friends in 1963 and would perform for free with the group at community events for close to 40 years. “We sang at Red Cross events, sang for the Lions Club and a whole lot of other community events, it was
enjoyable and a way of giving back,” she said. The mother of two, grandmother of seven and great-grandmother of four was also a councillor at the former Shire of Hastings. “We really wanted a swimming pool for Somerville, so I guess it was because I used to poke my nose into things that I got on council to push for a pool,” she said. “Somerville was growing, and we had nothing here, there was nothing for young people to do and a bit of vandalism started at that time. “It took a long time, but Somerville finally got a rec centre and so after one term on council I felt my work was done.” Over the decades she has been involved with the Mornington Peninsula Shire through her community memberships, she helped get the fruit growing machinery shed project up and running in 2011, and has been involved with the Somerville Tennis Club, the Somerville Bowling Club, and the Somerville Baby Health Centre (1960-1962). She also helped raise money to build the Somerville Scout Hall and was treasurer for the Somerville Social Set. “I just love living in Somerville and being part of the community, we are in the middle of everything,” she said. “And I don’t think I’ve done that much really, but my children and grandchildren think the OAM is fantastic.”
Data ‘share’ delays home care move Continued from Page 1 “Unlike the council staff, who are well trained and fairly remunerated, private companies often employ support workers with minimal training and low wages. “The timing of the transition could not have been worse. Due to the pandemic, many private providers are struggling to find staff. Was this given any consideration before the transfer? What processes were implemented to ensure a smooth handover?” Russell, director of online site Aged Care Matters, said council aged care workers were “valued and often loved by their clients”, and she would have advised the council to keep running its home care service. Russell unsuccessfully stood as the endorsed Voices of Mornington Peninsula Independent Candidate for Flinders in the May federal election and has spent years advising councils on how to retain their home care services. Dr Floyd Gomes said problems in the home care arena had “been festering” for a long time. “The things I hear most from elderly patients is the words ‘fed up’,” he said.
“They are fed up with aged care management that won’t talk to them, they are fed up with lack of consistency in staffing, and they are fed up with people not turning up. “These decisions made around aged care and home care have ultimately not been in the best interests of the people receiving the care.” Gomes said research showed 92 per cent of elderly people wanted to stay in their homes, “but hardly anyone gets to do that”. “The home care model in its present form is bad … staff are stretched and the elderly are missing out,” he said. “As a society it is time to look at how better to help people live out their lives at home with the support they need.” On the eve of the changeover to private providers two weeks ago, Bolton Clarke’s “at home support” spokesperson Sharon Kehoe said it was still receiving information from the council, but, once the information was available, would work quickly to contact people to schedule services and understand individual needs. Mecwacare and the federal government have not responded to requests for comment.
Experience required for awards panel members EXPRESSIONS of Interest are now being sought from local residents and business operators to become a member of the 2022 Australia Day local awards selection panel. The panel is responsible for assessing and deliberating all nominations received by Mornington Peninsula Shire and making recommendations for winners of the awards. Selection panel members will need to have demonstrated personal and professional integrity; have demonstrated expertise, experience and/or commitment to recognition of achievement in the community; have a track record of constructive and collaborative decision making
PAGE 6
Southern Peninsula News
13 July 2022
in a board or committee type structure; be available to attend and participate in an annual selection process meeting; maintain discretion around committee deliberations and recommendations; have proven their ability to formulate and explain recommendations; be residents or business operators in the municipality. Submissions close 27 July. Access form online at mornpen.vic.gov.au/ausdayawards, obtain a hard copy at a customer service centre. Email forms to governanceteam@mornpen.vic.gov.au or post to Mornington Peninsula Shire Council, attention Christine Aslanidis, Australia Day Local Awards EOI, private bag 1000.