10
www.theweeklyadvertiser.com.au
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
No longer forgotten
Meeting will help
T
he first Horsham meeting of Open Place for Australians who spent part of their childhood in a children’s home, orphanage or in foster care will be on June 29.
The meeting will be at Horsham community house at 4 Pearl Street from 1pm to 3pm. Open Place is a Commonwealth-funded support service for people whom identify as ‘Forgotten Australians’. The term Forgotten Australians refers to individuals who spent all or part of the childhood in a children’s home, an orphanage or were placed in foster care during the last century up until 1989. Open Place can help people trace their records and family, access counselling and health-care services and regional support structure.
Open Place services already operate in the Wimmera in Donald. Horsham Open Place co-ordinator Phillip Chalker said the service would have monthly meetings to help people. “While this is a Victorian service, we’re talking about 500,000 children across Australia that were in this situation. Expand that by their extended families and it represents a lot of people,” he said. Mr Chalker said people needed to register as a Forgotten Australian on 1800 779 379 before attending meetings. More information is available on the 1800 number or from Mr Chalker on 5381 1935, 0428 173606 or 0458 727 370. Forgotten Australians include all Australians including former child migrants, Indigenous people as well as others from mainstream society.
Top speaker Kaniva College year-eight student Louise Hobbs will represent the Wimmera at regional Legacy Junior Public Speaking Awards at Bendigo. Louise, the Kaniva school’s middle-school captain, provided the standout presentation at Wimmera Legacy’s junior speaking competition. Louise was one of a record 13 students from across the Wimmera to gather at Legacy House in Horsham for the annual event and her presentation was about volunteering, inspired by her mother. St Brigid’s College student Grace Kennedy, also in year eight, was runner-up for the second year in a row and Horsham College year seven student Cate Dunn was third. John Nunn led a panel of judges and encouraged Wimmera youth to take up the challenge of public speaking.
Money for cemeteries
The State Government will provide money to help maintain Dimboola and Pimpinio cemeteries. Member for Lowan Hugh Delahunty an-
nounced the two cemeteries would share in $21,090 as part of a statewide allocation of $500,000 to ‘small and medium-sized’ cemeteries.
Private Health Insurance
VR1534311
“Benefiting You and Your Community”
Our Private Patient Liaison Officer is here to help you
Our Private Patient Liaison Officer is dedicated to helping you through each stage of your hospitalisation. Prior to admission, the liaison Officer can tell you about your options and explain the process of becoming a private patient. In hospital, they are available to visit and answer any questions or concerns you may have. The liaison Officer will assist you with your accounts and paperwork, ensuring you are not inconvenienced.
Your choice can make a difference Even though Wimmera Health Care Group is a public hospital, you can elect to be treated as a private patient. You’ll enjoy peace of mind knowing you, your child or family member wil receive the highest standard of medical services along with the special privileges of private care. You won’t be out of pocket, and your local hospital will benefit from your decision.
Phone for an appointment with Wimmera Health Care Groups Private Patient Liaison Officer on (03) 5381 9300