Page 4 The Moorabool News – 12 July, 2022
News
Email - news@themooraboolnews.com.au
One year on Western Health is celebrating a year since the amalgamation with Djerriwarrh Health Services (DjHS), which now forms the company’s Bacchus Marsh, Melton, and Caroline Springs campuses. The three health services officially became part of Western Health on July 1, 2021, putting more than 11,000 healthcare professionals under the same umbrella. Western Health Chief Executive Russell Harrison thanked the staff across Bacchus Marsh Hospital, Grant Lodge Aged Care, and the Community Centres in Bacchus Marsh, Melton, and Caroline Springs, for their hard work, commitment, and dedication. “As we continue to work through the transition period, the focus of everyone here at Western Health has always remained on our most important priority – our patients,” Mr Harrison said.
“Thanks to all of our staff – both those who have recently joined and our long-term staff members – for your ongoing commitment. Together we aim to provide the best possible care for families and communities right across the western suburbs.” In the past year, over 100 staff have been recruited across the three campuses, buildings across the three sites have been upgraded, and more than 500 babies have been born at the Bacchus Marsh maternity unit. One of those babies was Colson Millson, who was born on the very first day of the amalgamation and returned to visit the hospital with his mum, Kimberly Varga. Western Health has also been allocated $3.75 million from the State Government recently, to go towards the provision of private bedrooms and bathrooms for all residents at Grant Lodge.
Colson Millson turned one on Friday, July 1, 2022. He was born at Bacchus Marsh Hospital on day one of the amalgamation with Western Health (July 1 2021). Photo – Western Health
Emergency services at the scene of the fatal collision on the Diggers-Rest Coimadai Road last Friday afternoon. Photo – M/News photographer ©
Fatality at Coimadai
A man has been charged following fatal collision in Coimadai last Friday afternoon. The 19-year-old has been charged by Major Collision Investigation Unit detectives with one count of dangerous driving causing death. The charge follows a collision involving a truck, bus and several cars on Diggers RestCoimadai Road on Friday 8 July about 3.40pm. Sadly, the male driver of one of the cars involved died at the scene. The driver of the truck was trapped in his vehicle for a short time while the driver, and only occupant of the bus, wasn’t injured. The Maddingley man was bailed to appear before Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Monday 11 July.
Rewards for good behaviour The safe driver discount has been reintroduced for learner and probationary drivers. The Andrews Labor Government is reducing costs for Moorabool motorists with a new package that rewards safe driver behaviour and makes learners and probationary licenses free. Member for Melton Steve McGhie said local drivers would benefit from the reintroduction of the safe driver discount, free learners and probationary licenses, as well as free online testing. “Free Ls and Ps will put money back in the pockets of young people and families and help them get connected to study and work,” he said. Under these changes, aspiring drivers and riders will save up to $51.40 in learner licensing and online testing fees. While probationary drivers will save up to $133.30 in probationary license and online hazard perception testing fees. Safe drivers who have not incurred demerit points or committed road safety offences in the three years prior to their licence expiring, will be rewarded with the reintroduction of a 25 per cent discount on their licence renewal. Car, motorcycle and heavy vehicle licence holders, regardless of age, who have not incurred demerit points or committed road safety offences in the three years prior to
Stationeer volunteers continue their plantings on the south side of Ballan Railway Station. Photo - submitted
South side station garden
By Carol Saffer
their licence expiring, will save more than $21 on a three-year licence and $73 on a 10year licence. The learner permit and hazard perception tests were made available online last year, to provide greater flexibility for aspiring drivers looking to achieve their licence goals anywhere, anytime – since its introduction more than 90 per cent of customers now choose the online option. In-person testing, and appointment fees will remain. For more information about licence and registration services in Victoria or to access the online tests, head to www.vicroads.vic. gov.au
Local community group Ballan Stationeers hosted a community planting day on Saturday, 18 June, the last one before winter really sets in. The Stationeers and volunteers planted various native plants on the south side of the Ballan Railway Station to improve the biodiversity values of the station and provide a habitat for wildlife. Mike Vale, Stationeers co-ordinator said ten people turned up on the day, some of whom were members of the Moorabool Catchment Land Care group. Mike said Justin Cass, the Land Care coordinator gave terrific assistance as he has invaluable plant knowledge. “He provided information on the best type of native plants for us to purchase from the Rowsley nursery,” Mr Vale said. “The Stationeers normally work on the north side of the railway lines, but this time we started phase one of the south side plantings,” he said. There were 280 potted plants transferred into the ground.
Julie Keating, Moorabool Catchment Land Care president, said the group provided a planting machine for use on the day. “This meant there wasn’t a lot of hard work for the volunteers as they just unpot the plants and place them in the holes,” she said. Mr Cass said a variety of native grasses, herbs, and wildflowers were planted. “These would have once occurred naturally in the area but have been removed from the landscape due to a number of environmental pressures since colonisation,” he said. “By planting these native species, we encourage native insects and pollinators, which attracts native bird life. “These new plants will also become a source of seed for future revegetation projects, and now germinate naturally at the site creating an ecosystem similar to the original grasslands.” Mr Cass suggests the next time you visit the Ballan Station, check out the gardens on the southern platform. All the workers enjoyed a free sausage sizzle kindly donated by the Ballan Lions Club. The Ballan Stationeers received funding from the Moorabool Wind Farm to make this project possible.