JUNE 4, 2019 \ STARWEEKLY.COM.AU
WOMEN’S WORLD CUP FIXTURE See page 14
NEWS + SPORT + PROPERTY GUIDE
Hobby hits gold reward
(Shawn Smits)
Avid coin collector Pauline Lippold has taken out a national competition, but she says her new friendships are the biggest reward from her favourite hobby. The Rockbank woman has won the Australian Mint’s Dollar Discovery competition, which encouraged the public to hunt for three unique $1 coins. Ms Lippold said coin collecting had become an important part of her life, and the competition had provided hours of fun. “It was my friends who got me into coin collecting,” she said. “We all have quite significant medical issues and we found that collecting coins, as well as noodling, are the perfect hobbies for us to take our minds off what we are going through and to give us an obsession. “My friends are avid coin collectors and were thrilled when they found out about this competition. “While sharing a cup of tea they convinced me to get involved and I am extremely pleased I did.” The competition involved finding three coins marked with A, U and S. Ms Lippold is one of eight winners to receive a $10,000 trip for three to Canberra, which will include a visit to the mint to create a pure silver coin, which would normally cost $1695. Ewen McRae
Call to take up flu jabs By Ewen McRae Demand for flu vaccinations is higher than ever, ahead of what is predicted to be a prolonged and brutal flu season. Djerriwarrh Health Services has already administered more than 1000 vaccinations locally this season, including to all staff, staff family members, school teachers and nursing homes. It comes as 26 people in Victoria have died from influenza as the flu season hits early. Djerriwarrh Health Services chief executive Belinda Scott said while the Melton and
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We’re doing a very wide-ranging vaccination program - Belinda Scott
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Moorabool communities had not been hit hard by the virus yet, it was important to get the vaccination message out there. “Just the fact we’re talking about the flu in May is remarkable, as the flu season is traditionally June until September,” Ms Scott said. “Given we have already seen deaths and
significant hospitalisations in other parts of the state does give the indication that the flu season is going to be worse than in the past. “We’re doing a very wide-ranging vaccination program this year, and encouraging the community to take that up.” Ms Scott also stressed the importance for pregnant women to get the vaccine in their third trimester, both for the mother and their child. “By getting the flu vaccine in the third trimester it will actually protect the baby for six months after it is born,” she said. “When they are at their littlest and most vulnerable
this gives them that protection, so that’s a key project that we are involved in.” In past years, just 20 per cent of pregnant women who used DHS services had taken up the flu vaccine. The service is targeting a 100 per cent uptake this year. Ms Scott said as well as getting an early vaccine, maintaining good personal hygiene was the best form of defence for locals. “Practicing good hand hygiene by washing hands with warm soapy water, coughing into your elbow and using tissues once and discarding are all important measures to protect you and your family,” she said.