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7 DECEMBER, 2021
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Become a cat carer
Ashley Nazim and Bob the kitten. (Damjan Janevski) 260051_01
Want to take care of a kitten or cat, but can’t commit to looking after them permanently? A’s Service for Rescue Kittens is looking for people to become foster carers for kittens, pregnant cats and mother cats for a short period of time. The carers look after the cats while they grow, recover from illnesses and become socially interactive, before they are adopted out to their forever home. Head rescuer Ashley Nazim said the organisation was always after carers. “We basically take in kittens, mum cats and pregnant cats,” she said. “We take care of them and we give them a chance. Some are ill, some aren’t sociable. We foster them out sometimes for two weeks or sometimes two months to help them grow. “A lot of them are underage and not desexed, so we can’t adopt them out.” All the cats are desexed and microchipped before they are adopted out. Details: https://www.facebook.com/ asserviceforrescuekittens/ Tara Murray
Call to do more on crime Safety concerns around Errington Reserve and Alfrieda Street in St Albans continue to grow despite an increased police presence. As reported by Star Weekly, residents and councillors have raised fears about anti-social behaviour including people selling stolen items on the street, drug paraphernalia being found in the area, the presence of burnt-out cars, residents being threatened by groups of drunk people, fights and people urinating in public. Star Weekly was told last week that people were selling knives in Alfrieda Street, while another resident said people don’t feel safe using the facilities at Errington Reserve. Brimbank community wellbeing director
Lynley Dumble said the council is aware of the current concerns in and around the Errington Reserve precinct. She said the concerns relate to not only safety matters, but also the health and wellbeing of some of the people who are assembling in the area. The council will consider applying to the state government’s Building Safer Communities program to help make the area safer. “This is a complex situation and requires co-ordinated responses from a range of stakeholders to provide long term solutions and ensure that all people feel safe in going about their everyday activity in the area,” Ms Dumble said. “Throughout 2021, council has engaged police, local traders, sporting clubs, youth
services and health and community service providers to initiate interventions to maintain safety for all people using the area. “Victoria Police are aware of the ongoing situation, increasing regular patrols of the area and responding quickly when needed. Council will continue to work with police to prevent crime and introduce community policing programs.” Ms Dumble said the council is working closely with local homelessness, housing and alcohol and drug services to address the underlying causes of anti-social behaviour. “Council will be trialling pilot programs facilitated by Brimbank Youth Services with support from youth stakeholders at Errington Reserve prior to Christmas 2021. This will then
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extend and continue to ongoing activations early next year.” A Victoria Police spokesperson said police conduct regular intelligence-led patrols in and around the St Albans area to engage with residents and businesses, and to detect and deter criminal activity. “Local operations addressing specific crime themes are regularly run by general duties police, with the support of specialist units such as the Public Order Response Team, Mounted Branch, Transit police and PSOs on an intelligence led basis,” the spokesperson said. “No matter the time of day, Brimbank police are always actively detecting and disrupting crime, arresting criminals and protecting the community.”
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By Tara Murray