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Tuesday 11 August 2020
5974 9000 or email: team@mpnews.com.au www.mpnews.com.au Helping hand: Mount Martha Rotary’s Roger Skipsey with Jenny Mihan, of Mt Martha House, Stuart Davis-Meehan, of Mornington Community Information and Support Centre, and Robyn Ruhl, of Mount Martha Boomerang Bags. Picture: Gary Sissons
Help for those doing it tough
MORNINGTON Community Information and Support Centre has a supply of free reusable and single-use masks for those struggling amid the tougher COVID-19 restrictions. This has come about after Mount Martha Rotary’s Roger Skipsey and Mount Martha Boomerang Bags’ Robyn Ruhl came together and arranged to provide the centre with 100 reusable masks. “Mount Martha House co-ordinator Jenny Mihan had called asking for help,” Mr Skipsey recalled. “She said Mornington Peninsula Shire was trying to source 500 reusable coronavirus masks to be distributed to the under privileged.” Keen to help, Mr Skipsey called Robyn Ruhl, of Boomerang Bags Mount Martha, whose team committed to sewing 100 masks, with the Rotary club agreeing to pay for them. The order was made and the work began. “When we all work together we can really make a difference … especially in this coronavirus world,” Mr Skipsey said. Their offer was welcomed by community information and support centre manager Stuart DavisMeehan, who had been concerned some people who could not afford to buy masks were wearing single use masks over and over again. “We are so grateful to Mt Martha Rotary and Mt Martha Boomerang Bags for their support. “This is just one less thing that people who are already struggling have to worry about.” The centre is continuing to provide food and financial support throughout the Stage 4 restrictions. Those in need are asked to call 5975 1644, 9am-4pm Monday to Friday, to arrange a visit. Stephen Taylor
Equality key to reducing violence Stephen Taylor steve@mpnews.com.au TWO of the most insidious, yet often hidden, scourges of modern Australian society are linked. One, gender inequality between men and women, is recognised as a key driver of male violence in the home; the second, male suicide, can result from the pressure exerted on men to follow outdated stereotypes of masculinity leading to anxiety, depression and risky drinking.
The two issues are central to Mornington Peninsula Shire’s long-standing commitment to addressing the gender drivers of violence against women and their children through its Gender Equality Strategy 2020-30. The strategy also supports efforts to promote women’s independence and decision-making, questions gender stereotypes and roles in both sexes, and promotes positive, equal and respectful relationships. An aligned project, Men and Boys Making It Happen on the Mornington
Peninsula, last week received $120,000 from VicHealth over two years. The project aims to encourage healthier attitudes towards masculinity contributing to advancing gender equality and improving the health and wellbeing of men, boys and the broader peninsula community. The project will follow the findings of the Jesuit Social Services’ study The Man Box which looked at what it was like being a young man in Australia. The study focused on a survey of a representative sample of 1000 young
men aged 18-30 from across the country, as well as focus group discussions with two groups of young men, on their attitudes to manhood and male behaviours. It found that pressure to be a “real man” and, to follow outdated stereotypes of masculinity, was contributing to anxiety, depression, risky drinking and, consequentially, violence against women and potential suicides. Services provider Family Life will join Mornington Peninsula Shire and Jesuit Social Services to deliver train-
ing and education sessions to peninsula men and boys with the aim of “challenging unhealthy masculinities and breaking the stigma around men’s mental health”. The project is in the initial planning phase with no set dates set, but updates will be posted on the shire’s website as it progresses into awareness raising, engagement and education activities. For more information about the project contact community change manager at Family Life Jodie Belyea at jbelyea@familylife.com.au
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