OCTOBER 10, 2017 \ STARWEEKLY.COM.AU
NEWS + SPORT + PROPERTY GUIDE
(Shawn Smits)
Family walks for prems Almost three years ago, Gisborne’s Fiona Hale gave birth to twins Lily and Penelope just 25 weeks into her pregnancy. Tragically, Penelope passed away three weeks later. This month, the Hale family will honour Penelope’s memory and support other premature babies during the national Walk for Prems fundraiser. Fiona said her family was taking part in the event so Lily would grow to understand about being a prem and about her sister. The Hales walked in the 2015 event, but last year Fiona was pregnant with now eight-month-old James. “It will be something we do every year,” Fiona said. Walks for Prems is the largest annual fundraiser for Life’s Little Treasures Foundation, which supports families with babies born sick or before 37 weeks gestation. Participants will pause at the beginning of each gathering and white doves will be released to show respect for the babies that have died. The Melbourne event will take place on Sunday, October 29, from 9am at Palms Lawn, Albert Park Lake in Albert Park. FM radio host Matt Tilley will be the Melbourne ambassador. Anyone unable to participate in the walk can register online as a Virtual Walk for Prems team member. Details: www.walkforprems.org.au FIONA HALE WITH LILY AND JAMES
Serena Seyfort
Cash boost for flu fight By Serena Seyfort Kyneton’s hospital is getting $92,844 from the state government as it copes with one of Victoria’s worst-ever flu seasons. According to Kyneton District Health Services, the hospital has experienced a hike of more than a third in patients seeking urgent care for respiratory illnesses. The organisation said some patients had been transferred to Melbourne or Bendigo, while
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the hospital’s staffing situation was also being impacted. Kyneton District Health Services deputy chief executive Karen Laing said there had been a 35 per cent increase in the number of people presenting to its urgent care centre with respiratory illness in the past three months compared to the same time last year. She said many of those patients were confirmed as having the flu. “Some have required admission here in
Kyneton, some have been transferred to Melbourne or Bendigo for further treatment,” she said. Ms Laing said staffing had also been affected by the contagious virus, with the amount of sick leave being taken by staff “at an all-time high”. Victorian health department data shows that as of October 3, 145 Macedon Ranges residents had been known to contract flu this year, compared to the 79 cases known last year.
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In Hume, 476 cases have been reported, while only 350 were recorded last year. The death toll in Victorian aged-care facilities from the flu has reached 116. Young and otherwise healthy Victorians have also been killed by the virus, including an eight-year old Melbourne girl and a Bacchus Marsh father. The funding comes as part of the $115 million being delivered by the Victorian government to the state’s busy hospitals.
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