Wednesday, 6 January, 2021
Pakenham
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All the big newsmakers from 2020
The year’s high ATAR achievers
New head for library corporation
All set for a bumper Warragul Cup
PAGES 4-19
PAGE 20
PAGE 30
SPORT
Covid’s front line By Gazette Editor Garry Howe The Covid-19 outbreak that dominated 2020 presented the largest threat to life and lifestyle most of us have seen in our lives - and hopefully ever will. The most obvious comparison is the war years -1914-18 and 1939-45 - and the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1919-20. As such, there won’t be too many fond memories from 2020. It will be remembered as the year we stared down a global pandemic and, fingers still crossed, came out the other side. The two waves of Covid-19 were a life and death struggle. In our hospitals, medical clinics, testing stations, aged care homes and on the streets, frontline workers risked their health to care for others. The unstinting nurses, doctors, surgeons, cleaners, counsellors, specialists, receptionists and the myriad of health care workers are the Gazette’s People of the Year for 2020. Those on the front line also included police and ambulance personnel and supermarket workers, who had to endure long hours, panic buying and a frustrated public, Home learning gave a lot of us a new respect for teachers - and a chance to bond with our kids. Staff were on high alert in Berwick’s hospital precinct - at St John of God and over the road at Casey Hospital - as were those working at
2020 PEOPLE OF THE YEAR They all laugh at suggestions that they are ‘heroes’. “You don’t expect to be in a pandemic, but you do it because it’s your job, what you’re trained to do, and you know that you’re there to help,” Karen says. “It was an experience. Hopefully I don’t ever have to do it again, but I’m glad I did it. You come into nursing for a reason.” Like the soldiers in those two world wars, they were on the front line of this battle, along with their colleagues in health and emergency services. We salute them for their service during an extraordinary time as the Gazette’s People of the Year for 2020. Turn to pages 2-3 for an insider’s look at the Covid battle.
Janet and Karen, nurse unit managers who worked on the Covid frontline at St John of God Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS Berwick Hospital. 224455 Dandenong and Warragul hospitals. Thankyou cards now line the walls of the tearoom at what was the Covid ward at St John of God Berwick Hospital - a sentiment we all
share well beyond those four walls. Reporter Danielle Kutchel caught up with St John of God nurses Karen Ward and Janet McAllister and Sally Webster from Casey Hospital.
New exposure sites revealed - plea to get tested By Danielle Kutchel Those keen to get tested for Covid-19 are advised to contact testing sites prior to arrival where possible, for an update on wait times. The advice on the DHHS website comes as visitors report wait times of several hours at testing sites across Victoria. Pakenham’s testing site at IYU Recreation Reserve on Henry Road is currently open Monday to Sunday, 9am-4pm. However, the site may close earlier due to high demand or extreme weather conditions. A number of places across the south east
have been identified as Covid-19 exposure sites in recent days, with visitors urged to get tested or monitor for symptoms depending on the site. Anyone who has visited the following locations during the date and time indicated must get tested immediately and quarantine for 14 days from the exposure. Holy Family Parish Doveton Catholic, 100 Power Road, Doveton on Saturday 26 December from 4pm-6pm. IKEA Springvale - Cafe and Restaurant, 917 Princes Highway, Springvale on Wednesday 30 December from 5.30pm-6.30pm - case dined at cafe.
The DHHS also advises that anyone who has visited any of the following locations during the date and time indicated must get tested immediately and quarantine until you receive a negative result: Metro Trains Pakenham line on Thursday 31 December from 9pm-9.30pm - case caught train from Westall Station to Flinders St Holy Family Parish Doveton Catholic,on Saturday 26 December at 6.30pm. Metro Trains Pakenham line on Friday 1 January from 4.30am-5am - case caught train from Flinders St to Westall Station IKEA Springvale, 917 Princes Hwy, Spring-
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vale on Wednesday 30 December from 4pm6.30pm - case in store and dined at cafe Springvale Shopping Centre, 46-58 Buckingham Avenue on Tuesday 29 December from 11am-12.30pm - case shopped Anyone who has visited any of the following locations should monitor for symptomstested and isolate until you receive a negative result: Fountain Gate Shopping Centre: Kmart, Big W, Target, Millers, King of Gifts, Lo Costa on Saturday 26 December from 9am-11am Coles Hallam, 2 Princes Domain Drive, Hallam on Wednesday 30 December..
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