TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2012 - $1.20
Racing style TODAY’S Melbourne Cup is the peak of the Spring Racing Carnival and what better way to dress up for the local racing season than by shopping locally. Dresses, suits and accessories with pizzazz can be found at local clothing boutiques, and Star journalist Simone Short epitomises elegance. Punters unsure of which mount to back in the cup today can’t go past The Star’s tips: Mount Athos to win, followed by Americain second and Sanagas third.
Red alert FARMERS have been reminded of the high fire risk during silage and hay seasons, following a hay shed fire at Wooreen last Wednesday.
The blaze threatened a nearby house after being sparked by a faulty bearing on a baler. The baler, shed and 240 bales of hay were destroyed.
Country Fire Authority crews from Leongatha, Berrys Creek, Mirboo North, Hallston, Allambee and Trafalgar extinguished the flames. Full story on page 5.
Moonya strife By Simone Short MOONYA Community Services in Wonthaggi will lose the right to offer day services amid allegations disabled clients have been put at risk by staff. Reports made by the Department of Human Services, clients, their families and the community contributed to the board of management deciding to relinquish Moonya’s contract with the department to another provider. That decision has been met with confusion, controversy and criticism by staff, financial members, clients and their families.
The union representing staff believed cutting the day services was a money saving exercise. Moonya CEO Barney Hanily last week told The Star the organisation did not have time to amend internal issues in the day services while clients were being put at risk. Mr Hanily said a “culture of secrecy” and a resistance to change by the staff left the board with no alternative after seven category one incidents were reported to the organisation in the past few months, with category one considered the most severe. “The number of circumstances we’ve seen with reportable instances to the DHS are far too high,” he said. “We’ve had the department lodge
57 The Esplanade, Inverloch
5674 2255
a number of those seven because of observations the department staff have made. It’s bad news that I’m giving to people, but there’s no nice way to dress it up.” Mr Hanily said his response to those questioning the sudden decision was, in his view, people were in danger. “We’ve got some of the most vulnerable people in the community here accessing our services and they’re unable to say if things are happening that they’re not okay with,” he said. “I don’t believe anything necessarily sinister was happening, but in the environment seen by specialists we have brought in, it’s possible something like that could happen.” Industrial relations officer for the
16 Surf Parade, Inverloch
Australian Education Union, David Bunn, who represents the day services staff, described the allegations clients were at risk as “an extraordinary statement”. “I think it’s a confession of abject defeat. I’ve been working with our members at Moonya for over a decade and if what Barney said was true, it would have happened in the last six months,” he said. “Moonya has been operating as a completely viable service. The parents and carers have no doubt about the quality of the service and they want their children there.” Mr Bunn said Moonya was also in breach of its legal obligations, claiming the board was yet to inform
30 Freda St, Inverloch
staff of its decision. “They are required to notify the staff as soon as practicable after making the decision,” he said. “Maybe that would take a couple of days to write up a letter to the staff. They are extraordinarily slack about doing what they’re legally required to do in relation to their staff.” Mr Bunn said the union’s main concern was the cuts were a financial decision and Moonya would not be able to pay out redundancies to its members, particularly after the CEO allegedly tried to cut wages in September this year because staff were “costing too much”. Continued on page 6.
25 Lohr Avenue, Inverloch
FRONT ROW OPPORTUNITY
CUTE COTTAGE IN A DREAM LOCATION
LIGHT UP YOUR LIFE IN FREDA STREET
BIGGER THAN THE REST
Positioned proudly on Inverloch's popular Esplanade. This 650sqm allotment with extensive uninterrupted views of Andersons Inlet, close to town this is a fantastic location with development potential (STCA). Also included is the original style beach home with 3 bedrooms and 1 bathroom.
A wonderful property to explore your options in one of the best positions in Inverloch, 1,246sqm (allotment) with a very cute 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom beach cottege with rear lane access.This is a dream location with a blank canvas.
Love the idea of a wonderfully big beach inspired home? Consisting of 4 generous bedrooms, office or 5th bed, 2 bathrooms, 3 living zones, games/ rumpus room, extensive open plan living, outdoor decking and a landscaped rear yard + so much more.
923sqm (approx) offers you options when considering development (STCA) or just use the honest 2 bdrm beach house for your holiday needs. Features lock up garage with shower toilet facilities, hard wood floors & single car port all just a short walk to patrolled surf beaches.
$850,000
$695,000
$575,000 negotiable
15674 B A’beckett 2255Street INVERLOCH $950,000 www.southcoastfn.com.au
SOU9160086