NEWS DESK
Online hits the lead in gambling stakes
Join us, the Aboriginal community of the Mornington Peninsula, for a leisurely stroll in the spirit of Reconciliation. Come with your family, school group or community group - everyone is welcome.
Includes Welcome to Country by the Bunurong Land Council, Mitch Tambo, Yeng Gali Mullum choir, cultural activities & free family BBQ from 11.30am onwards at Willum Warrain. The walk begins at Pelican Park on the Hastings Foreshore at 11:00am & proceeds to our Gathering Place at 10c Pound Road, Hastings. Park at Willum Warrain at 10:00am for the shuttle bus lift to Pelican Park. For more information please call 5979 1391 Organisations- please register your interest on the FB event to help with catering: https://www.facebook.com/WillumWarrain
ONLINE gambling is now regarded as a major player in the gambling industry. National advocate The Alliance for Gambling Reform says that statistics show online gambling has risen 80 per cent since the COVID-19 pandemic. “The speed of this shift to online gambling is simply breathtaking,” Peninsula Voice chairperson Peter Orton said. “It is uncommon to discernibly notice how local culture can be changed so dramatically, as we are seeing with the rise of digital gambling. “Most people are becoming aware of the sheer number of ads which pervade most sporting media coverage. The advertisements are so seamlessly weaved into the coverage of the event that it is becoming difficult to separate the gambling from the actual event.” Statistics showing the growth of this global digital business model is now surpassing all other forms of gambling across the country were presented to the 11 March meeting of Mornington Peninsula Shire Council’s gambling consultative committee meeting. The most recent Victorian Auditor General’s Report into gambling states the 2014/15 social impact cost in Victoria was $6.96 billion. Gambling reform advocate, the Rev Tim Costello, who has been raising this issue for some time now, is joining Deakin University professor Dr Samantha Thomas and former mayor Sam Hearn in a panel discussion on online gambling. The discussion is part of the Is Gambling Harm our Blind Spot? community public forum, 6.30pm Thursday 20 May at the Peninsula Community Theatre.
THE Rev Tim Costello will be one of the speakers at the Is Gambling Harm our Blind Spot? forum in Mornington.
WHAT’S NEW... WE URGENTLY NEED YOUR HELP!
BECOME A VOLUNTEER DRIVER Use your own vehicle or drive a PTA bus
Driving good in the community We are in urgent need of volunteer drivers in the Southern Mornington Peninsula & Western Port areas - Help make a difference by assisting to a l l e v i a t e t r a ns po r t di s a dv a nt a g e . C o nt a c t us o n 9 7 0 8 8 2 4 1 t o di s c us s ho w t o be c o m e a v o l un t e e r d r i v e r .
Proudly supported by
PENINSULA TRANSPORT ASSIST
www.peninsulatransportassist.org PAGE 14
Southern Peninsula News
19 May 2021
PENINSULA Transport Assist is a volunteerbased community transport organisation that helps people with various transport needs in the Mornington Peninsula and Frankston areas. Started in 2013, Peninsula Transport Assist has grown year on year (2020 excluded) and continues to expand to meet growing community needs. Peninsula Transport Assist helps people in getting to and from various outings such as medical appointments, shopping trips, social outings and much more. They have a dedicated roster of volunteer drivers, many of whom have been there for several years. One common piece of feedback received from their drivers is just how rewarding volunteering for Peninsula Transport Assist can be. Being able to directly help someone in a very immediate way by helping them get to a medical appointment, for example, or help alleviate social isolation, is something their volunteers find immediately rewarding.
Peninsula Transport Assist also runs a minibus hire program which both helps support the wider operation but also provides affordable mini-bus hire to the community. They offer both 12 and 25 seat buses and can provide drivers if required. There are no special requirements for their services and they are available to anyone in the community, such as community groups, Probus clubs, child care centres, businesses, and also private hire for events such as weddings, family gathers, etc. After quite a challenging year in 2020, Peninsula Transport Assist is ramping up again and is in urgent need of volunteer drivers, especially in the Southern Peninsula and Western Port areas. Transport disadvantage in these areas is especially acute so more volunteer drivers are urgently needed. Reimbursement of driving costs is available. Peninsula Transport Assist are located at 13 Railway Rd, Baxter or phone 9708 8241.