News
www.gippslandtimes.com.au
The end of spring firewood collection season
The blood bus will be in Sale until this Friday.
Blood donors needed now to boost supplies AUSTRALIAN Red Cross Lifeblood’s mobile donor centre is in Sale until this Friday. The service needs an extra 7000 people to donate blood over the next fortnight and is urging donors to keep their appointments as cancellations and no-shows rise. As lockdowns lift in Victoria, New South Wales and ACT, elective surgeries recommence, and with experts concerned about a spike in road trauma, Lifeblood is asking people to make saving lives part of their new normal. Executive director of donor services, Cath Stone, said half of all blood donation appointments were not being attended, while hospital demand was at its highest point in a decade. “Our donors have shown us incredible support over the last two years, however as life moves to COVID-normal, it’s important that people continue to donate to help ensure hospitals can continue to treat patients. Those patients need the generosity of blood donors right now. “There is no alternative for patients in need of blood and we’d like to remind donors, and anyone who has thought about becoming a donor, just how critical they are. “They are literally saving lives,” she added.
THE spring 2021 firewood collection season has closed across Victoria. Forest Fire Management Victoria Gippsland Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Geoff Conway, said from Wednesday December 1, it became illegal to collect firewood from public land. “Domestic firewood is a shared public resource that needs to be managed in a sustainable way into the future,” Mr Conway said. “Firewood can only be collected from designated firewood collection areas of state forests during firewood collection seasons which run from March 1 to June 30, and September 1 to November 30. “Fire prevention is also one of the key
reasons collection season closes prior to December each year when the risk of bushfire is highest, while also allowing the public spaces to be used for a range of recreational purposes over summer.” Under the Forest Act 1958, people caught breaking firewood collection rules can face penalties of up to $9087 and up to a year in prison, if the matter is taken to court. Vehicles and equipment may also be seized. Information about the illegal removal of firewood for sale can be reported to DELWP on 136 186. For the full list of rules of firewood collection in state forests, go to www.ffm.vic.gov.au/firewood/ firewood-collection-in-your-region
In particular, Lifeblood’s reserves of O Negative blood are being challenged, with the number of O Negative donors falling during the pandemic despite increased hospital demand. O Negative is the universal blood type and can be given to anyone in an emergency like those involved in road accidents, when there simply isn’t time to find out their blood type. Ms Stone said only nine per cent of Australians have O Negative blood, but it made up 16 per cent of orders from hospitals because it saves lives in emergencies. “We currently have 1000 fewer active O Negative donors than we did over a year ago and we would particularly like to welcome those previous donors back to our donor centres,” she said. “If you are feeling well, not waiting on a COVID19 test and haven’t been told to isolate, please book a donation. “With one in three of us needing donated blood or blood products in our lifetime, the life you save could be that of a friend or family member,” Ms Stone added. To book a donation visit lifeblood.com.au, phone 13 14 95 or download the free DonateBlood App.
Community connection grants
A NEW grants program being run by Uniting in Gippsland is helping people reconnect with community activities following the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Wellington Community Connect Initiative aims to help people get back into the things they love and reconnect with their local communities. The grants, which are available to people across the Wellington Shire, can support the costs associated with training and education, securing employment or to help fund sporting or community activities and equipment. Uniting Gippsland executive officer, Di Fisher, said the grants would help people to connect with their communities. “Whether it’s helping you with the training you need to further your skills and find a new job or if you’re wanting to get back into sport, these grants are for you,” Ms Fisher said. “We know how important being involved in community activities and sport is to people’s mental and physical health. “The pandemic affected all of us in different
ways. “Some people lost their job, others had their education or studies disrupted, and many people found they couldn’t play sport with their friends as local competitions were cancelled. “Getting involved with your community, either through work, education, sport or another community activity, is important to all of us. “We’re all looking for ways in which we can stay physically active and socially connected, so we would encourage everybody to consider applying for one of these grants. “Cost can sometimes be a barrier to community participation. “These grants are aimed at helping to remove that barrier so that more people can benefit from feeling part of the community they live in.” The grants are being funded by the Victorian Government through the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing. For more information or to enquire about the grants, phone Uniting Gippsland on 5144 7777 or e-mail wellingtoncommunityconnect@ vt.uniting.org
GP1636440 0
GP1636361
Times-Spectator, Tuesday, 14 December, 2021 – Page 15
