July 24, 2020
Message of survival
(Louisa Jones) 211703_14
Relay for Life had been “front and centre” in Elaine Holman’s world for 13 years when she was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2018. She and husband John joined the walk in 2005 after his diagnosis of prostate cancer in 2002, which he has since overcome. A non-smoker, Elaine had no symptoms until her “left hand decided it didn’t want to play [piano] anymore” during a choir performance in December 2018. Tests revealed a brain tumour and tumours in her pelvis and hip, resulting from stage 4 metastatic lung cancer. Surgeons removed the brain tumour and specialists targeted the others with radiation. Now she has ongoing immunotherapy to ight the remaining cancer in her lung. “It’s given me a quality of life I didn’t think I was going to have,” she said. Elaine reckons she, John and their team have raised about $100,000 for Geelong Relay for Life. But COVID-19 has forced the cancellation of the 2020 event, initially scheduled for October. Elaine is encouraging Geelong locals to donate to the event’s beneiciary Cancer Council Victoria directly instead. To donate: www.cancervic.org.au Luke Voogt
Virus testing ramps up By Luke Voogt Geelong and neighbouring municipalities have recorded 54 new COVID-19 cases in a week, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. Twenty new cases in Geelong and an outbreak at Colac’s Australian Lamb Company abattoir drove the seven-day increase. he Colac Otway Shire this week recorded its irst 26 cases since the pandemic began, with 29 cases in total linked to the abattoir outbreak,
including some now outside the shire. Greater Geelong had 97 cases, including 23 active, at midnight on Wednesday, up on 77 including eight active the week before. he increase includes six new cases in the 24 hours to midnight on Wednesday. he G21 region had 64 active cases as of midnight on Wednesday, including eight in the Golden Plains and four on the Surf Coast. In response Barwon Health has ramped up testing in a bid to contain and trace COVID-19 in the region. In late May and early June the
health provider was testing about 160 people per day – that has risen to 500 per day at its clinics over the past fortnight. “here are other health providers also undertaking testing,” Barwon Health communications director Kate Bibby said. “Barwon Health has undertaken more than 36,600 COVID-19 tests in the Geelong region this year.” Meanwhile, Grovedale West Primary School and Clonard College closed for the rest of this week following conirmed COVID-19 cases in
students. Grovedale West Primary School closed on Monday as authorities investigated a reported positive case but reopened on Tuesday. he school closed again yesterday following a conirmed case. he department of education and training said yesterday’s case was separate to a reported case earlier this week. No one in the Geelong region has died from the virus but one patient remained in intensive care with the disease at University Hospital Geelong, Barwon Health conirmed.
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THE MORRISON GOVERNMENT
EXTENDING JOBKEEPER FOR A FURTHER 6 MONTHS For more information visit: australia.gov.au SENATOR
SARAH HENDERSON LIBERAL SENATOR FOR VICTORIA 231-233 Moorabool St Geelong Vic 3220 www.sarahhenderson.com.au
03 5221 5900
SenatorSarahHenderson
Authorised by S. Henderson, 231-233 Moorabool St Geelong Vic 3220
senator.henderson@aph.gov.au SenSHenderson