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Santas pop up in town Santa has come early to Whittlesea. Whittlesea Lions Club members have been busy creating 38 Santas to display at shops and houses around the township. Lions president David Cordell said the club has been helping the community decorate the town for Christmas for the past 20 years. “We always put them up around the town so it takes a bit of time to get them all up. We like them all up by the first of November so everyone’s got their Santas up,” he said. “People love them, everyone loves Santa going up. The kids are always looking for them, all the parents tell us the kids can’t wait to see them up at Christmas.” Mr Cordell said he was looking forward to helping the township get into the festive spirit, with many of the club’s activities and fundraisers over the past two years impacted by COVID-19. “Over the last few years it’s been very hard but this year we’re back up and running,” he said. Afraa Kori Whittlesea Lions Club’s David and Bethany Cordell. (Damjan Janevski)305914_04
Election love for Yan Yean By Laura Michell A sister campus to the Northern Hospital will be built in Mernda should the Liberal and National parties win the November 26 state election. The $300 million pledge is one of more than a dozen election promises made by the Liberals and Labor for the Yan Yean electorate. Retiring Labor MP Danielle Green has held the seat, which takes in Doreen, Mernda, the Whittlesea township, Yarrambat and part of Donnybrook, since 2002. It is considered to be a very safe seat, with Labor enjoying a margin of 16.9 per cent over the Liberal Party. Combined, the two major parties have
pledged close to $400,000 million for the electorate. The Liberals have made more $342 million in election pledges for Yan Yean. Liberal leader Matt Guy has promise to build the Plenty Valley Hospital on the site of the Mernda Community Hospital – currently under construction by Labor – to relieve pressure on the Northern Hospital in Epping. He said facilities to be provided in the first stage will include an urgent care centre with a dedicated children’s treatment area, a day surgery centre, 100 hospital beds and a maternity ward. Labor said it will proceed with the community hospital, which will provide
services such as dialysis and chemotherapy and public dental care The Liberal Party’s funding pledges also include $14.5 million for Whittlesea Secondary College, $15 million for the Mernda aquatic centre, $280,000 for the Whittlesea Showgrounds, $120,000 for the Laurimar Reserve masterplan and $200,000 for a home for the Doreen RSL. Liberal candidate for Yan Yean Richard Welch has also promised that a Liberal state government will rebuilt Whittlesea police station, however no funding commitment has been made. ■
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A sister campus to Northern Hospital would be built in Mernda under a Liberal state election pledge. (Damjan Janevski) 264261_07
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