INSIDE THIS EDITION…
LIFE IN LOCKDOWN, PAGES 8 & 9
6 -19 May, 2020
BELLARINE’S NUMBER ONE NEWSPAPER
FREE FORTNIGHTLY
(Supplied)
Quiet relection Anzac Day was different for most of us this year, but our fallen Diggers were still remembered. Andrew Needham commemorated the day at 6.10am at Ocean Grove Main Beach. “It was an amazing scene and there was literally nobody else there on the beach this morning when I took these.” he said. “Not a single car in the carpark, and an incredibly solemn and peaceful time for remembrance.”
Cancer inquiry concerns By Justin Flynn Liberal Senator for Victoria Sarah Henderson has raised concerns over a senate inquiry into a possible cancer cluster on the Bellarine Peninsula, which began on Friday. Ms Henderson said the Victorian government’s assessment that there is no evidence of any cluster will “come under the microscope”. Ms Henderson said she was concerned that data collected for the inquiry does not focus solely on the cluster’s epicentre, Barwon Heads. “Ater reviewing the state’s methodology, I remain concerned that there has been no independent assessment of the epidemiological
evidence solely for the Barwon Heads township,” Ms Henderson said. “he Victorian government did not ind that there was any higher rate of breast or liver cancer, leukaemia, multiple myeloma, brain cancers or non-Hodgkin lymphoma in Ocean Grove and Barwon Heads. “However, by grouping the Barwon Heads and Ocean Grove populations together, the Victorian government has not assessed the historical incidence of cancer in Barwon Heads alone – which has a much smaller population – where any spikes in cancer rates would be more evident. “he state government’s analysis combines the population of Barwon Heads and Ocean
Grove which had a population of more than 18,000 people at the 2016 census.” he inquiry comes ater concerns were raised about a potential cancer cluster in Barwon Heads. Barwon Heads resident Ross Harrison, who founded community group Discovery 3227, compiled and published on social media a ‘cancer cluster’ map of the town. Mr Harrison has linked the claimed cluster to the former South Barwon Shire and Geelong City Council allegedly spraying with cancer-causing chemicals. More than 80 residents who lived near Barwon Heads’ colloquially named ‘he Muddies’ reserve at the time of the spraying had
contracted cancer or auto-immune diseases during the past 20 years, he has claimed. Federal and state governments have said that an analysis of data has not found harmful levels of cancer-causing chemicals in the town. he City of Greater Geelong also has dismissed the claims. Member for Bellarine Lisa Neville said reviews showed no higher levels of cancer. “Reviews by both the Department of Health and Human Services and Cancer Council Victoria found no higher rates of cancers for the area compared with similar populations over similar timeframes, while exhaustive soil testing found no concerning levels,” she said.
SUBSCRIBE to our DIGITAL EDITION - It's FREE 12443051-RC11-20
16 Marine Parade, Ocean Grove
Ph: 5255 5611 All Major Brands - Wheel Alignment Wheel Balancing - Tyre Repairs 12424050-RC34-19
12436617-NG03-20
OUR SERVICES: NEW VEHICLE LOG BOOK SERVICING AUTO ELECTRICAL REPAIRS ALL MECHANICAL REPAIRS & SERVICING RACV BATTERY SALES AIR CONDITIONING REGAS, SERVICING & REPAIRS LPG REPAIRS & SERVICING CLUTCH & BRAKE REPAIR