Mornington
Open Night Thursday 19 April 2018 at 6:00pm Dromana College 110 Harrisons Rd, Dromana
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Tuesday 3 April 2018
5973 6424 or email: team@mpnews.com.au www.mpnews.com.au Best of mates: Alan Wardley with Spotless and diversional therapist Maureen Donovan. Picture: Supplied
Patients’ pals just like the real thing PET Therapy Pals are making hospital and nursing home stays more enjoyable for elderly patients on the Mornington Peninsula. One patient, Alan Wardley, describes his therapy pal, Spotless, as a “wonderful, wonderful friend”. Mr Wardley, who has dementia, was a patient at The Mornington Centre when staff realised he would benefit from Peninsula Health’s Pet Therapy Pal program. The weighted stuffed animals remind patients of the feeling they enjoyed holding and caring for their real pets. They keep patients company and – like real pets – are ready for a cuddle at any time. “Patients who are very confused, who are really missing home, are lonely and don’t understand why they’re in hospital, really benefit from the program,” diversional therapist Maureen Donovan said. “It provides people who had pets with some familiarity and a link to home. “We know that stroking an animal helps calm people and makes them feel peaceful, and that’s exactly what the program does.” For Mr Wardley, Spotless triggered memories of his cats at home. “It is a very, very good therapy for people with dementia,” his wife Greta said. “My family and I can all see how much love Alan has for Spotless, as he named her.” Peninsula Health is raising money through its website for the Pet Therapy Pal program.
Shire to open office in Melbourne Keith Platt keith@mpnews.com.au MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire is opening a “satellite” office for its planners in central Melbourne. Councillors last week approved spending up to $60,000 to rent an office in the city for 12 months. They have called for a report on the “positives and negatives” after
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the office has been operating for nine months. Planning services executive manager David Bergin said the chance of working at a city location would enable the shire to retain “high performing staff”. “A number of staff resignations last year have identified a concern with distance from home, social life and family,” Mr Bergin said in a report to council’s Tuesday 27 March meeting. He said savings on travelling time,
which he “conservatively estimated” at $28,000, would offset the costs of the office. Mr Bergin said planners were frequently required to attend at the Victorian Civil Administrative Tribunal (VCAT), training courses “and other meetings in the CBD”, including with the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP), the Environment Protection Authority, Municipal Association of Victoria and
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Melbourne Water. He said travelling back to Mornington from Melbourne could take up to one hour and 45 minutes, which was costly when a planner was paid $43$76 an hour, a senior planner $53-$79, a principal planner $58-$91 and a team leader $70-$105. The staff that Mr Bergin said would be less likely to resign came from Melbourne’s middle to inner suburbs. “These staff members can become
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highly valued in the team, however, the peninsula’s tyranny of distance can ultimately take its toll,” he said. “The provision of improved customer service for the more than 28,000 absentee house owners, many of whom work or live closer to the CBD will have the opportunity to attend planning related meetings during lunch breaks or at a more convenient time without the need to add more travel time to Mornington. Continued page 8
For genuine care, experience & attention to detail. See David Ayton at
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