Page 10 The Moorabool News – 19 July, 2022
News
Email - news@themooraboolnews.com.au
A need to chat By Lachlan Ellis Local dementia carers have a new place to seek advice and ask questions thanks to a new support group, with its founder hoping carers won’t have to “go it alone”. Melton woman Melanie Farrugia founded ‘Dementia Carers Support – Melton and Surrounds’ in June, after attending two Dementia Australia events in Bacchus Marsh and finding such events were few and far between. Ms Farrugia cares for her mother-in-law who has dementia, and said getting advice and not bottling up how you feel as a carer was important. “I find that every carer’s needs are different depending on their circumstances. I went to two talks in the Marsh at the Library, and they were amazing. I knew certain things about dementia, but they explained so many things I didn’t know, like that there are hundreds of types of dementia. There are things you can read, but unless you’re actually talking with someone, listening and answering questions, you don’t get the full idea,” Ms Farrugia told the Moorabool News. “I think the better question is not ‘what support is missing for carers’, and ‘what is even out here’, and I’d say, nothing. Just talking to people who are going through it or have been through it is so important. I could find so many carers’ groups to go to and talk about my daughter [who has developmental
delay], but to talk about caring for someone with dementia … there’s nothing.” While the group is currently limited to an online presence on Facebook, Ms Farrugia hopes more people caring for those with dementia will feel confident to come forward and seek support, and in-person meetings may be possible in the future. “It hasn’t really taken off yet, I think people may be a bit embarrassed or hesitant to ask for help. I get that, I’m the same, I don’t ask for help often, I think I can do it on my own. But I was at the stage where I couldn’t do it on my own, I needed help and feedback,” she said. “There’s no judgement or abuse in the group. If people want me to post their questions to the group anonymously I will. If people need help, if they need to vent or have a cry, we’re here to listen and talk. “I’m in the process of asking Dementia Australia to come out again, and hopefully Council can donate a room for us to meet in. I think people would be more comfortable speaking in-person, talking openly and freely, and it won’t leave the room.” If you care for someone with dementia and would like some advice or just to chat with fellow carers, visit ‘Dementia Carers Support – Melton and Surrounds’ on Facebook.
Funding pumped into Gordon By Lachlan Ellis With fire season on the horizon, thousands of dollars have been provided to help firefighters in Gordon access water faster, providing a boost to fire safety for the community. The Gordon Fire Brigade received Fire Access Road Subsidy Scheme (FARSS) funding from the CFA through Moorabool Shire Council, allowing the branch to build two new water tanks. FARSS is a CFA program that financially supports municipal councils to implement modest-scale fire infrastructure projects that directly benefit CFA brigade incident response, and, in turn, boost community safety. Gordon Fire Brigade Captain Diane Lawson said the tanks were now fully operational, and will be ready for use if needed come fire season. “The two new water tanks hold 26,000 litres each, which will allow Gordon Fire Brigade to access water quickly for initial attack on fires. This will help firefighters with the prevention of fire spread and asset protection which will further improve our service to the local community,” Ms Lawson told the Moorabool News. “With limited reticulated water in the area, the need for static water was evident. The total project cost $16,000 - half of that was funded by CFA through the Fire Access Road Subsidy Scheme.” The two water tanks being set up for the upcoming bushfire season that would contribute to the help The water tanks are located on the roadside in Callaghans Lane, providing essential firefighting water to remote homes in the northern section of Gordon. remote homes in the area. Photo – Gordon FB
Calls to declare park ‘National’ A spokesperson from Victorian National Parks Association has declared the Greater Glider endangered status makes protection of Wombat Forest more urgent. Ongoing habitat destruction has landed Victoria's Greater Glider on the endangered species list, but Victorian National Parks Association says until Wombat Forest is legislated as a national park Australia’s largest gliding mammal remains at risk of disappearing forever. Recent research by VNPA and citizen scientists uncovered a larger than expected population hotspot of the Greater Gliders in Wombat Forest, recording an unexpected 40 Greater Gliders, four Koalas and even a Powerful Owl, Australia’s largest owl species over four nights in January 2022 “Greater Gliders are Australia’s largest gliding marsupial, but habitat destruction has seen their numbers dwindle," said Matt Ruchel, executive director of Victorian National Parks Association. "The Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek's recognition that they’re at risk of extinction is welcome but it also demands further action from the state government.” Mr Ruchel said the best way to protect Victoria’s endangered Greater Gliders is to urgently legislate Wombat Forest as a national park. The Andrews Government designated the Wombat Forest as a national park 12 months ago, yet inexplicably expanded forestry and salvage logging in the area. “The Andrews Government is very keen to promote its
conservation track record but a media release announcing a national park doesn’t protect anything if it’s not legislated.” The VNPA says that without a clear legislative timeline and the aggressively expanded salvage logging the area will require greater rehabilitation and restoration in the future. The area where these Greater Gliders were found is across seven planned logging coupes and is surrounded by additional salvage logging coupes. At least one of these coupes also contain records of Greater Gliders. Greater Gliders have seen significant declines in key areas across the state over the last 20 years, and much of the suitable habitat within Victoria has been impacted by the current 2019 -2020 fires. Wombat State Forest (WSF) contains the only population of Greater Gliders west of Melbourne, and is a range-edge population of Greater Gliders in Australia. The nearest population is in the Central Highlands, which are approximately 80km away.
Key facts: • Largest Gliding Marsupial in the world, 2nd largest gliding mammal in the world growing to a length of 1.5 meters. • Known as flying koalas as they only eat gum leaves like Koala. • 32% of Greater Glider habitat was lost on the 2019/20 bushfires.
The Greater Glider is under threat. Photo – Josh Bowell