INSIDE:
■ COMMUNITY CONNECT | page 6 ■ Letters to the Editor | page 8 ■ Shepp Show Me Fashion Spectacular | page 4 ■ Pass the ball | page 23
SEPTEMBER DEMENTIA AWARENESS MONTH 2018
DEMENTIA AWARENESS MONTH WHITE KING - PENTAL BUSINESS AWARDS NOMINEES
PAGE 13 PAGE 5
No 1:1422
Locals targeted by tax scam By David Lee A WARNING is being issued to locals to be vigilant and aware of a current tax scam that is targeting the community and accounting firms. Last week, it was reported that three clients of a local tax accounting firm had received phone calls from scammers claiming to be the ATO and saying they had a debt of up to $8,000 and demanded it be paid immediately via bitcoin. Continued on page 17
Help and assistance for dementia locally
BREAKING THE STIGMA SURROUNDING DEMENTIA…GV Dr Arup Battacharya explained Health senior clinical director, that there is a lot of stigma myths that need to be dispelled still surrounding dementia, but there and there are services available dementia, as well as their locally to help those suffering are carers and
families. Photo: David Lee. from SEPTEMBER is Dementia Awareness progression but also will help with Month, which helps bring planning to the spotlight and future care. the latest advancements in treatment and “When we talk about assistance available for dementia, we those with dementia commonly associate it as well as their families with memory loss or and carers. frequent lapses of memory, The Adviser sat down but dementia with GV Health is a global reduction of brain senior clinical director, function and Dr Arup Battacharya can include things like who explained that there issues with language, is a lot of stigma names, recognition, not being still surrounding dementia, able to do but there are everyday things that they used myths that need to be to be able dispelled and there to do such as banking, are services available looking after locally to help those investments, and can suffering from dementia, see some changes in as well as their personality and behaviour. carers and families. “There are many services “Dementia is starting out there in to become a very the community, including common problem in the help through community and it is Alzheimer’s Australia and the Alzheimer’s no longer regarded as exclusively a disease of Australia Victorian chapter and the elderly. It is important also the to recognise that dementia behaviour and management nearly a fifth of the dementia population is advisory service. under 65 years of age,” Dr Battacharya said. “If anybody is concerned “Nearly 1,800 people about themselves a week are being or their near and dear ones diagnosed with dementia they should in Australia, but observe any behaviour patterns there is more to it than and in the just the numbers first instance, go and talk to who are diagnosed. Anybody your GP to find who has come out more or perhaps start early treatment in contact with people with dementia will symptoms. of recognise what a huge toll it can take not Following a normal healthy only on the carers but lifestyle is on the families. You important, such as physical feel as if a loving father, activity. What husband, co-worker is healthy for your heart or friend has been snatched is healthy for your away. head. “Dementia is not a normal part of ageing, “The focus nationally which a lot of people this month is that tend to believe and ‘you are not alone’ when there are some prevailing you are diagnosed myths out there with dementia. There is a that we as a health facility lot of help out should start to there and this certainly is not dispel. There are certainly a normal part more benefits in of ageing and shouldn’t be treated diagnosing and picking as such,” up dementia early Dr Battacharya said. and raising community awareness will For further information, ensure that near and dear visit https:// ones or carers pick vic.fightdementia up early signs of dementia, because not only awareness-month .org.au/vic/deme ntiaare there treatments that, or phone the national although they can’t dementia helpline on 1800 100 500. cure the disease, can help to slow down the
Let’s talk about demen A free seminar on dementia,
services and support
All community members are invited to share how we can help support people with dementia to remain included, accepted and connected as we strive to form a dementiafriendly community.
HOUSE & LAND SPRING EDITION
20 page liftout inside
Footy Adviser with Matthew Chilcott PAGE 22
tia!
WHEN
Friday 21 September
10:00am - 12:00pm
WHERE Goulburn Valley Community Health Centre 121 Corio Street Shepparton VIC
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2018
Hosted by Dementia Australia, in partnership with Goulburn Valley Health/CDAMS Clinic
ECHUCA TO BEAR ALL
COST Free | Morning tea provided
BOOKINGS ARE ESSENTIAL REGISTER ONLINE
ADVERTISING HOTLINE: 5832 8900
shepparton2018.eventbrite.com.au
For more information call: 03 9816 5784 or email: dementiaawareness@d
ementia.org.au or Goulburn Valley Health/CDAMS Clinic call: 5832 3040 Call 1800 100 500
For language assistance 131 450
dementia.org.au #dementia2018 The National Dementia
September is Dementia Awareness Month. Together, we can all make a positive difference to the lives of people living with dementia, their families and carers. Become a Dementia Friend and help us transform the way we think, act and talk about dementia. Small actions can make a big difference.
Helpline and Dementia
Awareness Month are
funded by the Australian
Government
Learn more. Attend an event. Show your support. Become a Dementia Friend.
NEW CEO STARTS… The GMCU has welcomed its new CEO, Melissa Ralph to the team, who is looking forward to working with members and the community to achieve positive outcomes for the region. Photo: David Lee.
Welcoming Melissa to the GMCU family AFTER relocating from Albury/Wodonga with her husband, Heath, GMCU’s new CEO, Melissa Ralph, is settling in to her new role well and is looking forward to working with members and the local community to achieve positive outcomes
for the region. Coming from 15 years in the customer and banking sector, Melissa chose to join the GMCU family due to its strong reput at ion i n t er m s of c om mu n it y commitment and its strong management
team, which she says is great to see how the GMCU continues to make a difference in the local community. Continued on page 16