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30 JUNE, 2021
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Power of fundraising
(Joe Mastroianni) 241729_03
Stacey Rocco is using her professional powers for good in her new role as fundraising and community engagement manager of the Werribee Hospital Foundation. The Williams Landing resident is also a dedicated powerlifter, after taking up the sport at age 31. “I liked that powerlifting was inclusive and it does not matter your age, gender or how stereotypically fit you are,” Ms Rocco said. “Powerlifting has improved my confidence in myself. “My first powerlifting goal was to squat 60 kilograms and I failed it multiple times. Now my first warm-up squat is 60kg. “I am proud of how far I have come.” Ms Rocco said she was looking forward to making a difference in the community in her new role with the foundation. The foundation is raising money to purchase new palliative care beds, which cost $12,000 each, for Werribee Mercy’s Palliative Care Unit. “We are also planning our annual 5KOK virtual walk after the huge success of last years’ event mid-COVID,” Ms Rocco said. Details: www.whf.org.au or email hello@whf.org.au
Residents battle ‘brothel’ By Alesha Capone Residents of a Williams Landing street who believe an Airbnb house is being used as a brothel are calling on authorities to take action. Residents say there are often different women, sometimes accompanied by a man, who stay at the house for three to five days at a time. Multiple websites have advertisements for an escort who purports to be based in the street and one resident said people mistakenly knock on their door looking for drugs or a prostitute. Star Weekly has spoken to several neighbours in the street who want to remain anonymous. They say they have taken their concerns to
Wyndham council and Airbnb. They’ve also sent photos and videos of activities associated with the property to police. “We pretty much all have contacted the council and emailed Airbnb, and there has been no follow-up, nothing,” Brad said. Brad, is so fed-up that he has turned to western metropolitan MP Bernie Finn for help. In Parliament last week, Mr Finn asked the Minister for Local Government to contact Wyndham council on the resident’s behalf. “It’s an appalling situation,” Mr Finn said. “You cannot have illegal brothels popping up in residential areas, especially with families nearby.”
Brad, said he was “in no doubt” that illegal sex work was occurring at the house. He said he knocked on the door of the residence about a month ago, and a woman answered the door and invited him in. “I said, “How much?” and she said, “Don’t talk outside,” Brad said. Brad, who has a young son, said he was worried about having an illegal brothel in a neighbourhood where children live. A Police spokesperson said they had received reports of an illegal brothel operating at a Williams Landing address throughout June. “As the investigation remains ongoing, it would be inappropriate to comment further at
this stage,” the spokesperson said. Wyndham’s director of city operations Stephen Thorpe, said the council has no record of any complaints about a brothel in Williams Landing but had received one complaint about a party being held at the property in question. “The complainant was advised that short-term rentals are not regulated by council, and they should contact police,” Mr Thorpe said. Airbnb’s head of public policy, Derek Nolan, said community safety was a top priority. “We … proactively and collaboratively work with police, take action against guests and hosts who breach our policies, and invest in … our high-risk reservation screening system.”
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