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16 NOVEMBER, 2022
Busking to cure cancer When nine-year-old Matilda is busking outside Wyndham shopping centres the, she isn’t using her hard-earned gains for money for toys, clothes or treats. Instead, the Werribee resident has put her current earnings of $500 towards supporting the Cancer Council. The idea came to Matilda after listening to her mum read a story about Johnny Ruffo, an Australian musician battling brain cancer. “I decided to do it because two of my grandparents were diagnosed with cancer and I heard how [Ruffo] used to busk and I decided to do the same,” she said. Matilda’s parents said she’s usually quite shy, but they are “super proud” their daughter. “We think she is so brave for doing what, we think not a lot of nine-year-olds would,” her mum Tamara said. Matilda encourages other kids to find creative and challenging ways to face their fears. “Just go for it and conquer your fears,” she said. Nine-year-old Matilda is busking to raise money for the Cancer Council.
(Damjan Janevski) 307413_08
Animal care up in the air The proposed closure of Melbourne University’s Werribee U-Vet Animal Hospital has drawn strong opposition from residents who have labelled the move “dreadful” and an “absolute shame”. U-Vet provides animal care, referral and specialist support services, and 12-hour emergency care to pet owners across the western suburbs, treating more than 25,000 animals each year. Werribee resident Susan Browning said she’s been a client of the hospital since 2001. Her two Rottweilers and two Staffordshire bull terriers “wentthere for everything”. “When your dog is haemorrhaging
blood from the back end, it’s not fun,“ she said. “It’s very difficult to try and get an appointment with a vet outside the U-Vet environment. “[The proposed closure] places great strain on other vet practices in the area.” Ms Browning said the hospital once offered many specialist services, but she’ll now have to travel to Dandenong, Essendon Fields or Kensington, depending on what type of care her pets need. “For me, [the U-VET hospital] is the heart of Werribee,” she said. Animal Justice Party Werribee candidate Josh Segrave said the proposed closure would be an “absolute tragedy“ and a “blow to the entire community”.
Our aim is to take the stress and
“Animal care is in crisis, and the last thing Werribee needs is our only emergency hospital closing its doors,” he said. Mr Segrave said he was deeply concerned the closure would limit the type of care available during an emergency, and could put pressure on other veterinary clinics and hospitals in the region. “Animals should never go without the care they need, and those with pets shouldn’t be forced to travel halfway across Melbourne to get critical care for their companion animals,” he said. Mr Segrave said the closure would also be “devastating” for hospital staff and student veterinarians who complete their training at U-Vet. A spokesperson for the University of
Melbourne said while there were no changes to operations at the hospital at this time, consultation regarding its future was being undertaken. “It is proposed that the University of Melbourne will cease to operate U-Vet Animal Hospital at Werribee,” the spokesperson said. “In addition, the university is also exploring the potential for a third party commercial veterinary business to operate from the Werribee hospital facility in the future. “However any decision on this is subject to the outcome of the consultation on the university’s proposal regarding U-Vet. “This is a source of great regret and we will take all possible steps to support our staff during this difficult period.”
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By Fatima Halloum