JUNE 24, 2014 \ MACEDONRANGES.STARWEEKLY.COM.AU
news + sport + PROPERTy guide
Health services dropped ‘‘
It is a very difficult time in community services...
’’
- Anne McLennan
Agencies were working through the implications of merging organisations. “The process at the moment is legal due diligence. “The financial consultants have been appointed and will work with our accountant to go through the organisation and decide what the risks are. “The [board] members will be making the final decision. “We’re hoping there will be a recommendation before the board by the end of September.” At this month’s Macedon Ranges business excellence awards Cobaw won the award for ‘excellence in well-being service’. The health agency’s new direction will be under new chief executive Margaret MacDonald, who takes over the reins from Ms McLennan, who is retiring on Friday.
Thrills maybe, chills certain Mount Macedon’s Dominic Romeo will mentor a group of young Aboriginal adults through the physical and mental challenges they will face on a monumental journey to Antarctica. The world’s first leadership expedition on ice, Outback to Icecap, will involve Mr Romeo and a team of other mentors pushing themselves to their physical limits. Preparations for the adventure of a lifetime will start in August with a three-day boot camp in Mount Macedon. ■ Full story: page 12
We offer: • Vehicle servicing • Mechanical repairs • Vehicle safety check • Tyres and wheel balancing • Batteries We can also arrange Roadworthy Certificates by appointment only.
For all your vehicle maintenance and servicing needs
0432 40 90 00
17 Collins Road Melton VIC 3337
Steel Solutions MALOUF
NEW LOCATION
100mm galvanized steel retaining wall posts H section • C section Any length available! 90deg & 45deg sections also available!
Email: Sales@maloufsteel.com.au
Member
1136450-PB21-14
1141018-PB26-14
Cobaw Community Health will consider cutting its operating hours and potentially charge for services as it battles with state and federal government funding cutbacks. Cobaw, a not for profit organisation, provides low-cost services to more than 5000 people each year in the Macedon Ranges across childhood, youth, families, adults, aged and disability sectors. Chief executive Anne McLennan said Cobaw had to change its service structure in a bid to keep operating. “It’s a difficult time in community services everywhere,” she said. “We are having to make some very difficult decisions, which include cutting back the amount of time services can stay open each week, and which services can continue to be free for everyone, or where a fee for service can be offered for those able to pay a modest amount.” Youth Connections, a federally funded program that supports disengaged young people to gain employment, has been cut and will finish on June 30. On that date, state funding that supports diabetes education will dry up, as will home and community care funding that supports older people who want to live independently. Facing an uncertain future beyond December are federally funded programs that support people in parenting, emergency relief and other youth programs. Funding for other services, including allied health, speech pathology, cardiac rehabilitation and youth crisis support, is also under a cloud. “We have tried everything we can to
maintain our current funding sources for programs and in some cases we have been successful,” Ms McLennan said. “Our priority is to keep services open and to maintain service levels, but it means we have to make some very difficult decisions along the way. “We are planning for the long term to ensure that local services remain accessible to local people.” In April, Cobaw announced it is negotiating a merger with Bendigo Community Health Services.
(Damjan Janevski)
By Angela Valente
6 Vella Dr, Sunshine West Tel: 9311 4135
FREE DELIVERY
for orders over $300 within 40KM of the CBD.
Hours: Mon - Fri 8.00am to 4.30pm, Sat 8.30am to 12.00pm
www.steelsolutions.com.au