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Tuesday 15 September 2020
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Dolphins a splash hit with viewers Pictures: Alan Dillon
OBLIVIOUS to restrictions onshore, a pod of about six dolphins provided entertainment for morning walkers at Mornington. Alan Dillon watched from the pier as the bottlenose dolphins leaped from the water, possibly as part of a ploy to catch fish. Mr Dillon said the dolphins appeared to be “in a frenzy at times” and thought it may also have been a training lesson for a younger spotted one among the group. While untouched by the restrictions facing those on land (except maybe seeing an increase in fish stocks due to a ban on fishing), the dolphins would be just as unperturbed by the new regulations facing owners of the beach boxes which provided the backdrop for their gymnastics. In a revamp of the 20-year-old existing regulations, Mornington Peninsula Shire plans, among other changes, to make it mandatory for beach box owners to either live or own property on the peninsula. Submissions on the draft boat shed and bathing box policy close next Monday, 21 September. Visit: mornpen.vic.gov.au Keith Platt
Pandemic’s violent complication Stephen Taylor steve@mpnews.com.au ELDER abuse, an insidious stablemate of family violence, is rampant on the Mornington Peninsula during these strained days of COVID-19. With Victoria’s second highest population of elderly people, the peninsula has the highest number of police callouts per capita for family violence in
metropolitan Melbourne. Data presented to Peninsula Health shows family violence presentations to emergency departments and inpatient settings have increased 88 per cent in the past year. Similarly, elder abuse presentations are up 59 per cent. Statistics suggests that at least 10 per cent of those living on the peninsula aged over 65 are at risk of, or are experiencing, elder abuse.
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Peninsula Health’s head of social work Dr Meghan O’Brien said the referrals coming through had a “higher risk rating and severity compared to pre-COVID, and included stalking, sexual assault, head-butting, trauma to the head and strangulation”. She said about 70 per cent of older people experiencing elder abuse are women and that older people experiencing elder abuse are usually coping with
more than one form at any time, such as financial and psychological abuse. While the main perpetrators are adult sons and daughters followed by partners, many older people do not want to involve the police or take legal action. “The older person is more likely to be focused on supporting the perpetrator, perhaps their child, who may have factors such as financial stressors – gambling or unemployment – or
mental health issues or a disability,” Dr O’Brien said. “Research has shown that they may not recognise [it] as family violence and may regard abusive behaviour as a normal part of their intimate partner or family relationships or part of ageing. Hospitals had an important role in reporting and preventing elder abuse as most older people trusted health professionals. Continued Page 11
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