MAY 1, 2019 \ STARWEEKLY.COM.AU
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Help brighten Makayla’s day
(Damjan Janevski)
A Tarneit family is hoping to help spread awareness of a rare disorder. Nine-year-old Makayla was diagnosed with Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) when just a few weeks old. Common characteristics of the rare non-genetic disorder include small hands and feet, small stature, low body mass and hypotonia (weak muscles) at birth. It is believed that about one in 10,000 to 20,000 children are born with the syndrome. Makayla’s family is urging Wyndham residents to wear orange on Go Orange for PWS day on May 31. Makayla’s mum, Ashley Hebden, said her daughter was born five weeks premature. “She was born at the Werribee Mercy Hospital and two days later was transferred to the Royal Children’s Hospital,” Ms Hebden said. “She ended up spending five weeks there – and that is when she was diagnosed with PWS.” Ms Hebden said that a doctor at the Royal Children’s referred the family to the Prader-Willi Syndrome Association of Victoria and Prader-Willi Syndrome Australia. “They have been really good,” Ms Hebden said. “They advocate for families and anyone with loved ones who have Prader-Willi Syndrome.” Go Orange for PWS day is held annually to raise awareness and fundraise for Prader-Willi Syndrome Australia. Details: go-orange.org.au Alesha Capone
Hunt for street attackers By Alesha Capone Poles or batons have been used to threaten victims in a series of street robberies in Wyndham recently. Police are investigating an armed robbery in Tarneit last Wednesday, in which two men were confronted by a group of four to six males and threatened with a pole. The incident follows two robberies and two armed robberies during the weekend of
April 20-21 – two in Tarneit, one in Williams Landing and one in Point Cook. Detective Sergeant Paul Gilmour said police believed the incidents could be linked. He said the latest incident, on April 24, occurred near the intersection of Tarneit and Wickford roads, in Tarneit. A group of four to six males, who were described as African in appearance, threatened two men with a pole and demanded their phones and other property before fleeing the
scene. Neither of the victims was injured. Detective Sergeant Gilmour said the other robberies all followed a similar description. He said the incidents usually took place during the evening, in residential streets. About 7.30pm on Sunday, April 21 near Baden Powell Drive in Tarneit, a man was punched while a group stole his phone. He sustained minor injuries. Wyndham police Inspector Marty Allison
said police believed there could potentially be “two to three groups of young people” involved in the robberies. He said extra police patrols had been activated across Wyndham. “We’ve deployed extra resources into these areas, as a preventative measure and so hopefully people can go about their normal business,” Inspector Allison said. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.