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Issue 233 | Thursday, 20 October 2016
Real Estate Lifestyle Noosa’s Wee
kly Real Esta
Page 13
te Guide 20 October, 2016
The event is perfect for young, old and everyone in between.
Pink’s got paddle power MORE than 300 paddlers dressed in pink and took to the water to raise awareness of breast cancer on Sunday 16 October. Many of those paddling in the annual Paddle in Pink event were cancer survivors or were paddling in the memory of loved ones they have lost to the devastating disease. But the mood on the day was one of triumph and inspiration as cancer “thrivers” inspired those paddling next to them to never give up. Stories of survival and loss were shared but so were cheers of encouragement and compliments for great pink costumes, while new friendships were formed and bonds reinforced. The event brought together the young and old, those who had survived the disease and those who simply wanted to support their fellow community members who might be facing the struggle of a cancer diagnosis. Residents living in homes that backed onto the sound knew instantly the message the people in pink were sharing and shouted encouragement from the banks of the river. The annual Paddle in Pink is one of Noosa’s most spectacular community events and this year the group of pink paddlers raised more than $7000 for cancer research. Turn to page 2 for more photos of the great day on the water.
Noosa Sound became a sea of pink on Sunday 16 October for the annual Paddle in Pink fundraiser.
Bus cuts roll out By Jolene Ogle NOOSA families with special needs children who rely on bus services to get to school are facing an uncertain future as the roll-out of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) inches closer. The cancellation of local bus contracts has caused concern among parents and sparked outrage among service providers such as Ace Buses director Jane Stevens who has launched a petition to call on the Government to provide more infor-
mation on the changes to transport for special needs students. “The kids need stability and continuity,” she said. “We have emergency plans for the kids and we’ve formed relationships with the parents. This is ludicrous.” Ms Stevens said her company received a letter in August advising the bus operators that their contracts would cease on 31 December 2019 and since then Ms Stevens has only received word that the Government is “working on” the issue and nothing further.
Ms Stevens has gained support for her petition from a number of politicians including Minister for Education Kate Jones, who called on the Federal Government to clarify how transport assistance for students with a disability would be delivered beyond 2019. “Every day more than 5000 students with a disability are supported to travel to and from their home to state schools,” she said. Ms Jones said under the national agreement entered into by the former government, school transport assis-
tance for students with a disability will transition to the NDIS, but parents, carers and bus operators have been left wondering what the transition will mean. “Communities are telling me they have serious concerns as they have received no information from the Federal Government about how these services will be provided under the NDIS post-2019. “This is unacceptable for students and their families,” she said. A petition has been launched online but Noosa MP Glen Elmes has
labelled the Minister’s campaign as “scaremongering”. “I am extremely disappointed that there are three members of Parliament, one of whom is a Minister, who chose not to pick up the phone and ask relevant questions before joining a campaign that does nothing more than incite fear among families who are already struggling,” he said. “The notion to start a petition calling for the Federal Government to act is nothing more than scaremongering. Continued page 4
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