Kind volunteers help keep pets and owners together for longer
O T E M I T IT’S
n a e l c g n Spri
E L I M S R YOU
There’s nothing like the love and companionship that a pet can bring. However, through stages of life it can become a little more difficult to stay on top of our pet’s physical needs. Thankfully, there is a group of local pet-loving volunteers who are eager to connect with seniors and people with mobility limitations to help keep their pets at home with them for longer. The Pets for Life program was conceived through seeing the distress experienced by people who, as they found it increasingly difficult to meet their pet's ongoing needs, had to surrender their beloved companion. From this, the Caloundra Community Centre set up Pets for Life with the aim to connect pet owners with screened and trained volunteers to provide regular assistance, such as dog walking, access to veterinary services and assistance with the general wellbeing and care of pets. The program has been operating for more than ten years and currently has 60 pet owners and 70 volunteers across the Sunshine Coast region. One volunteer who has been involved with Pets for Life for almost four years is Beerwah local, Tricia Field. When she retired, Tricia, who has always had a love for dogs, jumped at the opportunity to become involved with the program. Tricia currently volunteers her time once a week to help loving pet owner, Max, with his best mate, Bailey. “It’s very rewarding and gives me a reason to get out of bed, too,” Tricia said. “It’s important to people that they’re able to keep their pets and I love that I’m able to help them with that. “On top of that, I’ve developed a strong friendship with Max over the years, and enjoy our time catching up each week.” As well as helping people care for pets, the program also aims to reduce social isolation for older people, fostering relationships in the community and offering further support to those who may be housebound. Recently, the program has had an increase in local volunteers in the Landsborough, Mooloolah, Beerwah and Maleny region who are eager to connect with pet owners in the area who may like a little extra support looking after their pets. Pets for Life is a free program that will introduce volunteers to owners and their pets to discuss what their individual needs are. Volunteers can assist with both short- and long-term support options and individuals will usually have more than one volunteer helping them. If you or someone you know would like to connect with a volunteer who would love to care for your pet as their own, you can find out more about Pets for Life by contacting Mark on 5491 4000 or 0414 519 047, or visit the website www.petsforlife.org.au.
Safety improvements for Landsborough-Maleny Road
Ph: 5494 0964 62 Simpson St, Beerwah
www.toothkind.com *conditions apply
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Works are under way to improve safety on Landsborough-Maleny Road around what’s locally called Cairncross Corner. Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said line marking and signs would be improved following community feedback. “This area is a popular route for tourists and day trippers,” Mr Bailey said. “These works will increase driver awareness of the upcoming Mountain View Road intersection when travelling eastbound on LandsboroughMaleny Road and the potential need to slow due to turning vehicles." The work is part of the Queensland Government’s record $23 billion roads and transport program, which includes the $812 million Bruce Highway upgrade from Caloundra Road to the Sunshine Motorway and $4 million Beerwah intersection upgrade. Line marking on the eastbound lane of Landsborough-Maleny Road will be modified to clarify the shoulder is not a passing lane but is a wide sealed shoulder for through traffic to slow and pass with caution if a motorist is turning right. “Signs on the approach and at the intersection will also be modified to better define the intersection and give eastbound motorists improved warning of the potential need to slow down,” Mr Bailey said. He said the existing advance sign to Mountain View Road would be replaced with a simplified sign that placed greater emphasis on the direction to Mountain View Road. “The existing sign includes competing information for Landsborough, Blackall Range Tourist Drive and Mary Cairncross Park,” he said. “To simplify this, the reference to Landsborough will be removed and the Blackall Tourist Drive wording replaced with the tourist drive shield. “We are committed to building and maintaining safer roads and these works will deliver more clarity for motorists using this road each day.” The line marking and sign works are scheduled to be completed by the end of the year, weather permitting.
Glasshouse Country & Maleny News
