AUGUST 1, 2017 \ STARWEEKLY.COM.AU
NEWS + SPORT + PROPERTY GUIDE
(Shawn Smits)
Dingo pups cuddle call Fancy a cuddle with the newest and cutest additions to the Dingo Discovery Research Centre in Toolern Vale? Members of the public have a rare chance to get up close to the six-week-old pups and tour their Dingo Den on weekends until the end of this month. Dingo Discovery Centre owner Lynn Watson said that with dingoes under threat from crossbreeding, the new purebred pups would help bolster numbers around the globe. “All these little dingoes are the drivers for our engine to keep the bloodline going,” she said. People can meet both baby and adult dingoes, and learn about why the breed is so important, when they visit, she said. “The 18 puppies are certainly a handful – they’re very, very cheeky, intelligent and absolutely love to play,” she said. The puppies will be at the centre for the next few months until they are old enough to leave mum and dad and be relocated to other wildlife parks in Australia and around the world. Information or to book: Australian Dingo Foundation Facebook page. Esther Lauaki
VOLUNTEER SHENNAI PALERMO WITH SOME NEW PUPPIES
William’s up for a fight By Esther Lauaki
(Supplied)
raised nearly $25,000 in the past fortnight. Mum Monique told Star Weekly that Melton has a little “superhero” in William everyone, especially William’s dad Kye and eight-year-old brother Cameron, wanted to Smith. The Batman and Lego-loving youngster was see him well again. “He is our little superhero,” Ms Smith said. diagnosed with stage five Wilms tumor, a type “He is a boy who loves Lego and Batman, all of childhood cancer that starts in the kidneys, just a month shy of his fifth birthday in June. the superheroes, and barracks for the Bombers His battle started with six weeks of – especially his favourite player Dyson Heppell. “Prior to this diagnosis he was a very well, intensive chemotherapy before surgery on the cancer found in his right kidney and lungs happy boy and had spent a wonderful Mother’s Day with very close family friends.” last month. William had his left kidney and 25 per cent of The Melton community heard William’s story and is throwing its arms around the his right kidney removed early last month. Post Smith family by organising the Will 2 Fight surgery, Ms Smith said a biopsy of the tumor charity ball on August 26 to raise money for confirmed stage 5 Wilms. She knows there’s a long road ahead “There is a likelihood of a relapse with a for William involving many months of the family’s long struggle ahead. An online GoFundme campaign has tumor possibly coming back,” Ms Smith said. chemotherapy and years of hospital visits.
She said she is thankful for the support from those close to her “little superhero”. “William has shown great strength, as too have the family tackling each day as a new one,” she said. “Despite being fatigued and lethargic, he has shown amazing maturity and strength. “We are all aiming for William to get better post treatment [to] get through a two year remission period so he can be fighting fit, attend school and be well enough to make it to Legoland and Disney World.” The Will 2 Fight charity ball will be held on Saturday, August 26 from 6.30pm to 11pm at Laila Reception in Brunswick. Details: Seda.Zielke@BTfinancialgroup. com or donate online www.gofundme.com/ will-2-fight.