Wise way out of anxious times Liz Bell liz@mpnews.com.au
JAN Wilcox found the help and job she needed after contacting Wise Women. Picture: Yanni
Many talents. One VCE.
JAN Wilcox’s story of anxiety over COVID, getting older and what the future held will be familiar to many women in their 50s and 60s. The 62-year-old Rosebud resident’s life was plunged into turmoil when COVID hit, and she wasn’t sure whether her job was secure or where she would end up. Ascending into a journey of selffulfillment, Wilcox had quit her job and sought out a new career path. Except, one month later, the whole world was at a standstill thanks to lockdown. But her story of triumph over the dark forces of anxiety and ageing is uplifting and she hopes that by telling it others can find the same happiness she has. “I’d been in a job washing dishes in a kinder at Capel Sound for about 10 years, but then COVID hit and I had a bit of a meltdown, and quit,” she said. “I’m not even sure why I quit, but I knew pretty quickly that I was in trouble, because at my age there really isn’t much available.” After a few months Wilcox’s state of mind was not getting any better, so she contacted Wise Women, a program designed to help older women find meaningful work or volunteer placements. “Luckily, my old kinder also called about this time and asked me if I could come back, initially for one day a week, and of course I jumped at it,” she said. So, with some paid employment lined up, Wilcox set about looking for
other things to fill in her week. Wise Women, which is an employment program run by women for women, was able to match her personality, skills and job preferences with the Rosebud Clothes4U service, a not-for-profit that provides clothes and other needs free of charge for men and women in hardship. “As soon as I got in touch with Wise Women, who were supportive and helped me get my confidence back, I began to feel better, and in fact now my life is better that it was before I quit,” Wilcox said. “I was in a bad spot and it was awesome to know people care and that I could get back up and make a difference to others.” Wilcox now volunteers 15 hours a week at Clothes4U, which she fits in with working 12 hours a week at her old kinder. Her volunteer work involves helping select quality outfits and accessories for people in need to apply for jobs, attend court, or even just to feel better. “I realise after speaking to some of the clients that come in, life can go to pot pretty quickly, it nearly did for me, and it does for a lot of people through no fault of their own,” she said. “Now, I can help them, and that feels great.” Wise Women business manager Lisa Ryan said Wilcox’s story was common, with older women often needing the confidence and support to get their lives back on track after a personal crisis. Ryan described Wilcox as “a little pocket rocket” and “full of energy”, who was determined to find a rewarding role.
DAY TRIPS AROUND THE BAY WED 15 JUN $90pp includes lunch & ferry trip OLD GIPPSLAND HERITAGE PARK WED 22 JUN $90pp includes 2 course lunch ROSE COTTAGE - XMAS IN JULY FRI 1 JUL $85pp Xmas themed lunch 9 TO 5 THE MUSICAL SUN 31 JUL $149pp 6PM Performance EXTENDED TRIPS
Home Pick Up & Return Service (t&c’s apply)
BENDIGO - ELVIS & DA VINCI EXHIBITIONS 25 – 27 MAY $975pp ($150 s/s) MILDURA & SWAN HILL 5 - 11 JUN $2285pp ($400 s/s) HOBART & TASSIE EAST COAST - FLY/FLY 7 - 14 SEP $2989pp ($400 s/s) PERTH & MARGARET RIVER - FLY/FLY 25 SEP - 1 OCT $3399pp ($490 s/s) FULLY ESCORTED SENIORS TOURS 1300 274 880 (local call cost) Info@daytripper.com.au | www.daytripper.com.au
To advertise in the Southern Peninsula News call Ricky on 0425 867 578 or email ricky@mpnews.com.au Southern
Peninsula Southern Peninsula local families Caring for 40 years for over
erals.com.au
YOUR GUIDE TO WHAT’S ON THIS WEEKEND FOR PENINSULA FAMILIES
YOUR GUIDE ON THIS TO WHAT’S FOR WEEKEND FAMILIES PENINSULA
FACEBOOK: peninsulakids.com.au INSTAGRAM: mornpenkids
ndent voice An indepe to Portsea
www.rosebudfun
123 Jetty Road,
Rosebud
Caring for local families for over 40 years
Ph: 5986 8491
www.rosebudfunerals.com.au
123 Jetty Road, Rosebud
2022 nity y 13 April Wednesda for the commu An independent voice for the community
FREE
Ph: 5986 8491
FREE
Wednesday 13 April 2022
au ews.com. Beach to Portsea covering Safety weekly community newspaper Beach s.com.au www.mpn SafetyYour r covering or email: team@mpnew and editorial needs, call 03 5974 9000 or email: team@mpnews.com.au www.mpnews.com.au For all advertising y newspape 5974 9000 communit needs, call 03 Your weekly and editorial au
: peninsulakids.com. mornpenkids
FACEBOOK : INSTAGRAM
For all advertising
Our Lady students at Laarni YEAR two Primary School Day. of Fatima during Harmony and Guyan Picture: Supplied
YEAR two students at Our Lady of Fatima Primary School Laarni and Guyan during Harmony Day. Picture: Supplied
in colour Harmony around the
from schools in participated STUDENTS Peninsula Mornington at the end of March, Harmony Day in a range of activiof diversity getting involved to the theme ties linked parents and and inclusiveness. 25 March, On Friday Lady of Fatima PriOur held a crazy friends of in Rosebud of mary School where the rainbow run, of colour fun to the celebration colours added be used diversity. raised will The money for the school’s to buy resources which promotes a club, environment lunchtime and inclusive welcoming on the yard. for all children
Harmony in colour STUDENTS from schools around the Mornington Peninsula participated in Harmony Day at the end of March, getting involved in a range of activities linked to the theme of diversity and inclusiveness. On Friday 25 March, parents and friends of Our Lady of Fatima Primary School in Rosebud held a crazy colour fun run, where the rainbow of colours added to the celebration of diversity. The money raised will be used to buy resources for the school’s lunchtime club, which promotes a welcoming and inclusive environment for all children on the yard.
reef ondelay layfor on reef calls for de Shire Shire calls Liz Bell om.au liz@mpnews.c groups are
pinning
COASTAL from the on pressure
their hopes Shire CounPeninsula Mornington artificial reef being an cil to delay Port Nepean. about the installed off are concerned The groups environment reef on the impact of the consultation. community fish and lack of a plan to improve the As part of fishers, recreational stocks for
of the bay.” sensitive part reef has for such a an artificial was an exThe push for by the government said there led Ms Cheers consultation Associalargely been request community Victorian Fisheries pectation of likely to affect marine to ignore to ignore the Cheers said there was an exMs Foundation, body the the request “For a minister wants to “For a minister would be outraFishing Authority the Futurefish Victorian about matters hasn't hapcommunity consultation Liz Bell pectation tion, online asof“a outrabeand wants to council itself of would of a local structures inbut “that of a local council install 16 large concrete Authority no evidence in liz@mpnews.com.au which describes about matters likely to affect marine said. 30 about communities, representing said. shestudy. there wasgeous,” Victorian Fishing andapart 50 metres geous,” she the minister of four to clustersdated watchdog” concrete structures pened” assessment fearless dated 30fishers,communities, with an aim but “that hasn't hapMarsh In a letter to the minister install 16 large about 50 metres apart In a letter to north of Observatory the ocean CrinAnthony any environmentalabout this reef whenCr Anthony four and there was no evidence of recreational pened” recreational Marsh the mayor Point, at Point the mayor Sorrento are pinning clusters of Observatory groups Nepean. “We only heard March, March, and enhance” it’s been north ofCOASTAL of the Portsea, “protect any environmental assessment study. Sorrento Victoria. the Portsea, membersofofthe said because in the ocean Nepean. the members from it in The News, groups, has sidedwe with their hopes on pressuresaid readresidents The council throughout increase heard about this reef when fishing is toonly groups, mandates“We Coastal advisory advisory with residents Point, at Point has sided and Rye Coastal Rye the quietly Counthrough about Shire Peninsula and beach users concerned Mornington all News, it’s been andcommunity, in The pushed fishing lobby One of its the broader it in reefs we read about The council concerned alongside the broader community, of artificial recreational and boating reef beingthe “significant is urging fishing an artificialalongside reef andconcerns” powerful number because of the users cil to delay the concerns” pushed through quietly “significant and boatingNepean. and beach sheonsaid. had expressed to hold off had expressed Melissa Horne groups,” minister reef. Page 12 fishing lobby for the instal- parts of Port Phillip. installed off Port artificial on urging fishing recreational asking powerful Continued artificial reef. the planned the planned to hold off reef and is about until the for the quesaboutabout Horne plan.information “We are simply The groups are concerned calls themore wa-CommunitytoGroup put on hold calls andRye letter minister Melissa Thenot askfor more information groups,” she said. The letter a big Chair of the reef on the environment lation be impact of the Group environment It's “We are simply asking for the instalpubliclyCheers, said the plan. on the potential environment and waanswered. Community on the potential Alliance, Mechelle be made Ryeand consultation. tions arethe community lack ofsaid the lation to be put on hold until the quesimpacts to to be made publicly Chair of the Cheers, ter safety council’s support had given opponents ter safety impacts fish a plan to improve As part of tions are answered. It's not a big ask Alliance, Mechellehad available. given opponents available. of the reef “a fair bit of hope”. stocks for recreational fishers, the council’s support fair bit of hope”. “a reef of the
with quality time gEnjoy more quality time with Enjoy more one, by trustin your loved by trusting with their your loved one, After-Care After-Care with their needs in home carethe complication out of in home care needs take on how to Support, For information and NDIS Packages a call! Home Care friendly staff or give our visit our website
t NDIS Suppor Packages Home Care 1300 46
46 63
for such a sensitive part of the bay.” The push for an artificial reef has largely been led by the government body the Victorian Fisheries Association, and the Futurefish Foundation, which describes itself online as “a fearless watchdog” representing recreational fishers, with an aim to “protect and enhance” recreational fishing throughout Victoria. One of its mandates is to increase the number of artificial reefs in all parts of Port Phillip. Continued Page 12
For information on how to take the complication out Home Care Packages and NDIS Support,
Southern Peninsula
of
visit our website or give our friendly staff a call!
nance Home Mainte Garden & Home Maintenance Garden & NDIS Support s e Care Service All In-Home Care Services All In-Hom Packages Home Care
e.com.au 63 46 46 1300 after-car inhome@
om.au www.after-care.c inhome@after-care.com.au
www.after-care.com.au
The VCE now includes the VCE Vocational Major. It acknowledges all students equally, giving them more options which fit their strengths, interests, and aspirations. Whatever their talent, they can pursue it under the new VCE. Go to vic.gov.au/oneVCE or contact your school Career Guidance Counsellor to find out more.
Authorised by the Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne.
Southern Peninsula News
25 May 2022
PAGE 9