JULY 28, 2015 \ NORTHERN.STARWEEKLY.COM.AU
NEWS + SPORT + PROPERTY GUIDE
Suburbs ‘trapped’ in poverty A national social services report, Dropping off the Edge 2015, has listed several Hume and Whittlesea suburbs among those experiencing a web of disadvantage that made it impossible for residents to break out of poverty. Broadmeadows in particular was listed as one of six of the most severely disadvantaged postcodes in Victoria. The findings were emphasised when compared with previous studies undertaken in 2007, 2004 and 1999, revealing the suburb’s entrenched disadvantage. Coolaroo, Campbellfield, Lalor and Thomastown were also ranked in the “disadvantaged group”. The Jesuit Social Services and Catholic Social Services study used 22 indicators to measure wellbeing, health, community safety and education. It found that disadvantage was concentrated into a small number of communities where residents were three times more likely to experience long-term unemployment or to have been exposed to child maltreatment, 2.6 times more likely to experience family violence, 2.4 times more likely to be on disability support, and twice as likely to have criminal convictions than the rest of thge population. Broadmeadows MP Frank McGuire has questioned the report for singling out Broadmeadows as one of the most disadvantaged in the state. Mr McGuire said the figures did not accurately portray how much the suburb had changed in the past decade. “The stats don’t actually tell the story,” he said. “The infrastructure we were denied in the past is here.” He listed the Hume Multiversity, the
Age Library and the Broadmeadows Regeneration Project as evidence of a changing of the guard. He did, however, acknowledge the devastating effect the winding down of manufacturing was having on the area. Whittlesea Community Connections chief executive officer Jemal Ahmet said the inclusion of Lalor and Thomastown on the list of disadvantaged suburbs should be a call to action.
‘‘
They’re as disadvantaged as they’ve ever been
’’
- Jemal Ahmet “I’ve been working on community service for 17 years and there’s really been no observable shift in those suburbs – they’re as disadvantaged as they’ve ever been,” he said. He blamed federal, state and local government “short-termism” in areas such as early childhood education. “Government’s don’t want to invest in long periods of time – they want things that fit into an election cycle and that’s really not good enough.” Mr Ahmet said Whittlesea council had shifted its focus to the new residential estates rather than the disadvantage faced by residents in established parts of the municipality. “If you look at anything the council is doing you’ll see how growth-fixated they are,” he said. “We’re consigning a new generation to a new level of disadvantage just because of where they live.” The report recommended a joint government and community effort to provide opportunities for economic and social participation.
LYNDON GALEA AND LINDA RICHARDS
Lunchbox crusader A service that delivers school lunches to students who would otherwise go without is set to expand in Hume and Whittlesea. Eat Up founder Lyndon Galea started delivering packed lunches to Lalor East Primary School this month after making contact with the Thomastown school’s assistant principal Linda Richards. Ms Richards said the school had about five pupils who regularly came to school without lunch. “It’s always been a bit of an issue here,” she said. “Prior to Eat Up, we would make them some toast and give them some fruit. But for us, this is so much simpler.” Mr Galea started the enterprise earlier this year in his home town of Shepparton. “We’re looking to expand in Hume and Whittlesea and would welcome any schools contacting us,” Mr Galea said. Contact him on lyndongalea@gmail.com for more information. Lexi Cottee
LION CAR RENTAL.com.au CARS
VA N S
Short or Long Term Rentals Up to 12 seater Vehicles Passenger or Commercial Vehicles Like us on facebook for specials and deals
Open 7 days Phone: 9303 7447
SUVS
TRUCKS
R E N TA L S
CARS FROM
$23 a day No Hidden Charges T&C Ap ply
(Shawn Smits)
By Lexi Cottee
LION TYRE MART High Quality, Competitive Prices, Efficient Service • 13’ TYRES FROM $55 BRAND NEW • GENERAL SERVICE FROM $80 • TAXI TYRES FROM $70 FITTED(215/60/16) • ALL MAJOR AND MINOR MECHANICAL REPAIRS
SPECIAL OFFER - 2015
Buy 4 tyres for your car and become a VIP Customer • Free Wheel Alignment • Free Wheel Rotation and Balancing every 10,000km
You save $120
Lion Car Rental Unit 5/19-25 Somerton Road, Campbellfield 9303 7447 & Lion Tyre Mart Unit 6 19-25 Somerton Road, Campbellfield 9303 7992