16th September 2014

Page 1

Mornington Your guide to what’s on this weekend for peninsula families

An independent voice for the community

FREE

Your weekly community newspaper covering Mornington, Mount Martha and Mount Eliza For all advertising and editorial needs, call 1300

Tuesdayy 16 September 2014 2014 01 14

MPNEWS (1300 676 397) or email: team@mpnews.com.au www.mpnews.com.au

Riding into unknown FOR more than three decades, Riding for the Disabled has been bringing joy to the lives of special needs families through its volunteerrun equestrian program at Balnarring. But the property the group has used since 1981 to provide groups of disabled people the liberating pleasure of riding horses in a tranquil bush setting was recently sold. The owners have kindly permitted the program to continue until the end of the year, but after that, Riding for the Disabled Peninsula will need to find a new home. Volunteer Jenny Stidston said RDA Peninsula, which is one of 37 Riding for the Disabled centres across Victoria, provided about 60 riders a week the opportunity to enjoy the “wonderful experience of sharing their lives with the 70 volunteers and 10 remarkable horses�. “Apart from the physical benefits of being outside and sitting upright on a horse, the riders, mostly children, also get the wonderful and satisfying experience of building a relationship with a big, gentle animal who is happy to see them every week,� she said. “This gives the children a huge boost of self-confidence and self-esteem and they love the time they have riding and look forward to their regular rides with their horses.� The group is now looking for a new home base and has put the call out to peninsula property owners who might be able to help. Anyone able to help find a new home to enable RDA Peninsula to continue its programme for disabled children is asked to contact Jenny Stidston on 0439 896 158. Riding high: Cobi Bryant and Brodi De Denato enjoy riding with volunteers Paul Connor and Carmel Powell at Balnarring last week. Picture Yanni

Possum link to ulcer cases Stephen Taylor steve@mpnews.com.au NEW cases of the flesh-eating Bairnsdale ulcer have been found on the southern Mornington Peninsula. Dr Daniel O’Brien, deputy director of infectious diseases at Barwon Health, said he had treated “six or seven� cases in the Rye, Blairgowrie and Sorrento areas in the past 12 months. These are among up to 20 cases reported since 2006. There is no clear cause of the condition widely thought to be confined to

Jacqueline Conquest Accredited Family Law Specialist Collaborative family lawyer Providing better solutions for separating couples Family Law, Wills & Estate Planning

the Bellarine Peninsula, where up to 60 cases have been reported over the past few years. Dr O’Brien said on ABC radio last week that, despite experts being unable to pinpoint a cause for outbreaks on this side of the bay, they had noted an abundance of the ulcer bacterium in possum poo. This does not mean possums are carriers, he said, or that they are inked with the transmission of the disease. Dr O’Brien said studies by medical researchers Paul Johnson and Janet Fyfe, of BiomedExperts, had detected

7 FACTORIES of

NEW & USED

FURNITURE New to Old Antique to Retro

Located at: Southern Partners, 1140 Nepean Hwy Mornington

Ph: 03 59 770 680 Mobile: 0437 695 491 www.wallsbridges.com.au

COME IN & SEE THE HUGE RANGE OPEN 6 DAYS

possum faeces “teeming with ulcer bacterium� in areas where the condition had been found. In areas where the disease had not been found, possum poo was not so contaminated. It is possible the possums suffer from the ulcers themselves. He emphasised transmission to people may be caused by mosquito bites or contaminated soil – possibly containing possum poo - entering cuts on the hands of gardeners. “Possums may be accused of amplifying the disease, but we are not advocating killing possums,� Dr

THE GRAND MEAL DEAL

Buy a main meal & receive up p to...

$15.95* OFF the th price i off tthe h second main meal

Valid to 25/9/2014. Monday to Thursday only. Bistro only.

Frankston Auction Mart

*Applies to meal of least value. Excludes entrees & seniors meals. Excludes online printouts. Not valid with any other discount offer or on public holidays.

Ph 9783 9613

Ph 5975 2001 124 Main St, Mornington

42-54 New St, Frankston

www.frankstonauctionmart.com.au

O’Brien said. “All we know is that they get infected and, in some areas, their faeces are teeming with bacteria. “The race is now on to determine what role, if any, possums play.� Dr O’Brien said it was “important people on the southern peninsula know this disease is around�. “Even if we don’t know what causes it, we should take steps to prevent it. “Gardeners should wear gloves, clear possum poo from soil, and wash their hands. The condition can be cured but early detection is better.� He advised residents with sores that

MORNINGTON

BEDSHED'S

9TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS

30% OFF STOREWIDE! NO EXCEPTIONS!!

THE BIGGEST ST

DISPLAY OF

MATTRESSES ATTRESSESS THIS D /14 BEDROOM E ENFURNITURE L 21/9 A S ACCESSORIES Y AND A ND

SU

ON THE MORNINGT MORNINGTON PENINSULA BEDSH BEDSHED MORNINGTON SUPERSTORE Peninsula Homemaker Centre, Cnr Nepean Hwy & Bungower Road Phone 5973 6333 • www.bedshed.com.au

do not heal, or are spreading, to keep affected areas clean and see a doctor. He said peninsula doctors were well versed on the disease and had the appropriate medicines at hand. Treatment can involve extensive courses of antibiotics – which can cause unwanted side effects – and repeated visits to medical clinics. The Bairnsdale ulcer is so named because it was first detected in Victoria in East Gippsland in 1948. Professor Peter MacCallum wrote a description of the disease when treating patients there.

One Stop Bar Shop Home Brew Supplies - Bar Accessories Table Sports and Darts - Gifts for Men Beer Equipment

MAKE YOUR OWN CRAFT BEER AT HOME

0RUQLQJWRQ 7\DEE 5G 0RUQLQJWRQ


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.