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Safety hubs to put victims first By Sumeyya Ilanbey Melton’s young people fleeing domestic violence face the obstacle that the closest emergency accommodation is about 30 kilometres away. A Hope Street Youth and Family Services survey from April last year found 94 per cent of its female clients and 86 per cent of its male clients cited violence as the reason they left their family home. Now agencies hope to get local projects off the ground after the state government signalled it would commit funds to emergency
accommodation following last week’s handing down of the comprehensive report of the Royal Commission into Family Violence. The report highlights the “major limitations” of youth refuges and the lack of them in growth corridors. Hope Street plans a $1.5 million emergency accommodation centre but still needs funding. A spokesman for Housing Minister Martin Foley said this was being “considered”. Hope Street service development manager Mandy Baxter said she welcomed the findings of the commission and its emphasis on young
people and their needs. Ms Baxter said that while the safety of victims of domestic violence should be paramount, there needed to be a holistic service, including counselling, provided to young people “so they can reconcile that trauma and move forward”. “There’s a real capture of young people in this report,” Ms Baxter said. “We’re so pleased it’s recognised that in growth corridors, like Melton, if we don’t put support services in place, young people disconnect from their space, place and communities.”
The commission wants the state government to recognise children and young people affected by domestic violence “as victims in their own right”. Among its 227 recommendations, the commission noted the need for support and safety hubs for both victims and perpetrators in each of the 17 Department of Health and Human Services areas, including Brimbank and Melton. It said these should be provided by 2017. Premier Daniel Andrews has vowed to “overhaul the broken family violence system from the bottom up”.
(Shawn Smits)
P-plater caught at 200km/h
CAROLE DOYLE, CORAL EVANS AND HEATHER EVANS
Crosses lay out pledge to remember put their personal messages on a cross and [unite] the whole community in Melton,” Ms Doyle said. “Usually there’s nowhere people can leave simple messages. I wanted more community involvement with Anzac Day … it was wonderful to see how many people got involved last year.” The crosses have been carved by members of the Melton and Taylors Hill men’s sheds. Ms Doyle’s husband Joe Doyle, a team leader at Melton Men’s Shed, said the blokes are eager to help. Most money raised from the sale of the crosses will be donated to the Young Diggers, a group that trains dogs to support present and
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former Australian Defence Force members dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder. The commemorative crosses are available from Melton civic centre, the information centre and library, and, for a gold coin donation, can be placed in a marked area as of Monday, April 11. A short-film Melton Anzacs – Remember Them will be screened in the Balam Balam room at Melton library on Monday, April 18 (2-4pm), Wednesday, April 20 (10am-noon), and Thursday, April 21 (6-8pm). For more information, visit melton.vic.gov.au
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Melton families are being asked to help with a special Anzac Day memorial this month. As part of April 25 commemorations, 500 crosses will be laid on Melton Civic Centre’s lawn. Partners of Veterans Association Melton sub-branch’s co-founder Carole Doyle said the initiative, now in its second year, is a way for people to thank former and current service people. Ms Doyle said the effects of war are profound, not only on the soldiers, but their families. So, for some, the significance of the crosses is generational. “It’s a way for people in the community to
A Werribee man faces a string of charges after being caught speeding more than 120 km/h over the limit at Rockbank. Police clocked the P-plater travelling at 200 km/h in an 80 km/h zone on Neale Road about 12.30pm last Wednesday. Acting Sergeant David England, of Melton Highway Patrol, said officers pulled the man over near Hopkins Road and impounded his 2015 Volkswagen Golf, which will cost him $983 to clear. The 21-year-old allegedly told police he took the sports car, bought about a month ago, for a test drive – he wanted to see how fast it could go. He did not test positive for drugs or alcohol, police say. “Thankfully, nobody was injured,” Acting Sergeant England said. “But it’s absolutely atrocious … foolish behaviour from a young, inexperienced driver.” Acting Sergeant England said the man could’ve seriously injured or killed himself or others travelling at that speed. He’ll be charged on summons with dangerous driving, speeding and other traffic offences. Meanwhile, Melton police pulled over 144 drivers on the Easter long weekend, with 53 people caught speeding, eight testing positive for drugs, two of these also for drink driving, while a further two drivers were caught above the blood alcohol limit. “I worked every day [during the long weekend] and most drivers were superb,” Acting Sergeant England said. “Most of the public were well-behaved but there were the occasional ones who decided to speed or take drugs and drive.” In Moorabool, police detected 48 traffic offences – with most (32) for speeding.
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Level 1, 250 High St, Melton 3 MELTON & MOORABOOL STAR WEEKLY \ APRIL 5, 2016