JUNE 16, 2015 \ NORTHERN.STARWEEKLY.COM.AU
NEWS + SPORT + PROPERTY GUIDE
Finding pals in albinism
(Damjan Janevski)
During Pia Robson-Garth’s primary school days, teachers would reserve a spot at the front of the classroom for her. The special treatment led to taunts and bullying from her peers, but if she wasn’t sitting up front she could barely see the blackboard. The Eden Park resident was born with temperature sensitive albinism, meaning she has poor vision typical of albinoids but does have the ability to produce pigment in her hair in cooler parts of the body, such as eyelashes and eyebrows. “I don’t have that strange look that others do, but it means people don’t believe me,” she said of her condition. She struggled to complete exams during school. “As I get tired or stressed my eyes strain and shake,” she said. “It’s like they’re constantly looking for a point of focus but can’t find it.” On Saturday, the 32-year-old change manager sought out fellow albinoids on Facebook to celebrate the very first International Albinism Awareness Day. The United Nations has designated June 13 as a special day to throw light on the often misunderstood genetic condition, which is characterised by a complete or partial lack of skin pigment. PIA ROBSON-GARTH
Lexi Cottee
Jobs blow for north Woolworths will shed about 680 full-time, part-time and casual staff when its Broadmeadows distribution centre closes in 2018. The supermarket chain announced last week that it will replace its Hume distribution centre in Northcorp Boulevard with a new state-of-the-art grocery distribution centre in Melbourne’s south-east. The exact suburb has not yet been revealed, but the new centre is forecast to open in 2018. Broadmeadows MP Frank McGuire was shocked by the announcement, which he said came out of the blue and without consultation with local stakeholders.
“I’m deeply concerned about Woolworths’ decision,” Mr McGuire said. “This is a looming social disaster if major companies can simply say they have decided to leave without any discussion or negotiation. “This will be a big expense to shareholders. Why couldn’t their issues have been addressed in Broadmeadows?” he asked. “There’s too much secrecy about this. You can’t just treat the community with such disdain.” The Hume site is one of just nine Woolworths distribution centres across Australia servicing more than 800 supermarkets. A new $150 million meat processing centre at Laverton, at least 20 new stores and upgrades to 40 existing stores in Victoria are among the company’s plans for the next three years.
LION CAR RENTALS.com.au Cars
Vans
SUVs
Short or Long Term Rentals
Trucks
Rentals
Best Rates Guaranteed
Cant afford to buy the car you wants Up to 12 seater Vehicles Passenger or Commercial Vehicles RENT TO BUY DEALS Like us on facebook for specials and deals Cars from: Open 7 days Phone: 9303 7447 No Hidden SOMERTON - CAMPBELLFIELD Charges a Day T&C Apply
$23/-
The new semi-automated $350 million distribution centre in the south-east will be the largest single investment in the company’s history. Woolworths has operated its manual distribution centre from leased premises at Broadmeadows for 16 years. Supermarket operations director Pat McEntee said the company would help Hume workers with alternatives over the next three years. A Woolworths spokeswoman was unable to confirm how many of the 340 full-time staff employed at Broadmeadows would keep their jobs. National Workers Union Victorian branch secretary Gary Maas met with the union’s 550 members and Woolworths employees.
“Not only is this a real blow for workers currently working at the distribution centre, it’s a blow for the northern suburbs generally,” he said. “The loss of these jobs has a communitywide effect,” Mr Maas said. “Decent job opportunities will no longer be there for young people entering the workforce. Some families may even have to look at upheaving their lives to find work elsewhere.” The union, Hume council and the state government will work towards helping affected employees retrain and secure jobs elsewhere. Woolworths’ announcement closely follows steel-maker Austube Mills’ plans to close the company’s Somerton site. Come late August, 86 Austube Mills employees will be retrenched.
• Dealing tyres and wheels (new & used); • Wheel balancing; • 3D Wheel alignment; • Puncture repairs; • Servicing vehicles of all types; and Repairing (mechanical & electrical) petrol and diesel vehicles
Special Offer - 2015 Buy 4 tyres to your car and become a VIP Customer: • Free Wheel Alignment • Free Wheel Rotation and Balancing every 10,000km You save $ 120/-
High Quality, Competitive Prices, Efficient Service
Lion Car Rental Unit 5/19-25 Somerton Road, Campbellfield 9303 7447 & Lion Tyre Mart Unit 6 19-25 Somerton Road, Campbellfield 9303 7992
1186492-CG22-15
By Lexi Cottee