NEWS DESK Jobs on agenda FRANKSTON Council has agreed to call for a report outlining “any opportunities to be further investigated regarding changes to processes, strategic position and policy that could aid with the creation of more employment opportunities”. The move was ticked off at council’s most recent ordinary meeting. Debate about the motion divided councillors, with discussion quickly turning to the recent decision to reject a move to open up Green Wedge land in Carrum Downs. The proposal, backed by lobby group Committee for Greater Frankston, would have allowed for the expansion of the industrial estate. Former Frankston councillor Christine Richards made a submission to council on behalf of the Committee for Greater Frankston. She said that the committee had “taken Carrum Downs off the agenda”. “You have made a decision and that decision will be respected,” she said. Cr Colin Hampton, who supported the move to open up the Green Wedge, said “council has passed a resolution which will stymie jobs in Carrum Downs.” “Because of what has happened in Carrum Downs, we need to make sure we can find jobs elsewhere.” Cr Glenn Aitken said “this motion comes at the tail end of a divisive and controversial debate about the Green Wedge.” Cr Steve Toms said “I find it eery that this comes on the back of that hotly debated issue.” The report will come back to council in April. Brodie Cowburn
Pensioner’s plea for benefit of pain relief Stephen Taylor steve@mpnews.com.au AN elderly man suffering from what he describes as the “worst pain known to man, or the suicide headache” is pushing for the most effective – but most expensive – treatment to be added to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. Pensioner Albert Mew, 77, said he could vouch for the grim depiction of the ailment after suffering extreme pain for years. “I have now been diagnosed as a chronic sufferer which means hardly a day goes by when I don’t get one,” he said. “Most days it is three or four and sometimes as many as six. There is no cure at present; I have tried many medications but none have worked.” The dictionary describes cluster headache (CH) as a neurological disorder characterised by recurrent severe headaches on one side of the head, typically around the eye. They are often accompanied by eye watering, nasal congestion, or swelling around the eye on the affected side. Symptoms can last 15 minutes or up to three hours. Mr Mew, of Mount Martha, said medication to ease the pain included Sumatriptan or Imigran which came in three forms: tablet, nasal spray, or self-ministered injection. “The tablet takes so long to work, the nasal spray is better along with home oxygen but there is no subsidy from the government,” he said. “On the other hand the injection is brilliant and the relief I get is a godsend. Because the tablet and the nasal spray are on the PBS I don’t get charged at the chemist as I
It’s chronic: Albert Mew has suffered extreme headaches for years. Picture: Yanni
have reached the safety net. However, the injection kit with two injections costs $135 and, as a 77-year-old pensioner, I simply cannot afford them too often. I take one with me if I am out for the day.” Mr Mew is urging other sufferers of cluster headache to lobby health minister and Flinders MP Greg Hunt in the hope he may be able to have the injections placed on the PBS, or at
least be made available at a reduced cost. But Mr Hunt – who says he has written to Mr Mew over several years to “discuss his ongoing issues living with cluster headaches” – says he is powerless to help. He said he had “no legal authority” to list medications, or change the eligible conditions to which they can be used, without a positive recommenda-
tion from the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC). “The PBAC can only review a medication if a pharmaceutical company puts forward an application to them for review,” Mr Hunt said. “If the manufacturer was to put forward an application to the PBAC for the treatment of cluster headaches, it would be considered under the normal process.”
WHAT’S NEW...
Open to talking about hens JASON and Giuliana started a free-range egg business called Talking Hens back in 2012 on their small family farm in Keysborough. They started selling some of their hens to customers wanting to keep their own backyard flocks. As more and more people started buying their hens, Jason and Giuliana started providing a range of other products to keep backyard hens healthy, happy and active. Along with this, education and support for backyard chicken keepers became more important for them over time. Eventually, they moved away from egg farming but kept selling their friendly, HyLine Brown laying hens. From their farming experience, Jason and Giuliana learned that the Hy-Line Brown was
Looking for backyard hens but unsure where to start?
Talking Hens is a family business that enjoys backyard hens. We specialise in supplying friendly, egg laying hens with quality products to keep them happy and healthy. There’s nothing like the friendship and entertainment that you receive from our laying hens - a pleasure to be shared!
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Southern Peninsula News
4 March 2020
Download our FREE, Beginner’s Guide to Backyard Chickens at: www.TalkingHens.com.au
Farm visits: Open 4 Days Friday, Saturday, Sunday or Monday between 10am - 4pm. For enquiries, call 0406 691 231 or www.facebook.com/TalkingHens
3590 Frankston-Flinders Rd Merricks.
www.TalkingHens.com.au
very suitable for families as they were placid, had lots of personality and were one of the best egg-laying hens around. Following their permanent move to Merricks, they are having an Open Weekend to celebrate! Open Weekend on 14th and 15th of March 2020 Visit Talking Hens at 3590 Frankston-Flinders Road Merricks between 10am and 4pm over the open weekend to talk and learn all about backyard chickens. On both days they will have face painting, petting zoo, cupcake stall (with all money donated to the bushfires appeal), craft activities and presentations on getting started with backyard chickens.