Bowls

club’s big honour for Jim Burrowes

The Box Hill RSL Bowls Club has honoured one of its stalwarts after he reached a massive personal milestone.

Blackburn South’s Jim Burrowes, who turned 100 years old in March, was honoured for his outstanding contribution over the years when the club held the Jim Burrowes Perpetual Trophy day on 29 April.

Mr Burrowes joined the former Box Hill Bowls Club in the 1970s and won the Club Singles Championship in 1990.

The club merged with Box Hill RSL in the mid 2000s, and he continued to play pennant bowls, only stopping two years ago. Vice Chairperson Judy Smith said the club loves to see Jim when he occasionally visits, and his trophy is designed to recognise a rising star of the

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day – 15 June

club. Jim presented his trophy to its inaugural winner – Pam McCormack – as part of the celebrations, which also included a barbeque and some of his favourite tunes.

Outside of bowls, Mr Burrowes served in the Army during WWII as a Coastwatcher, and received a Medal of the Order of Australia in 1991 for his services to lifesaving.

You can read more about him at: www.thelastcoastwatcher. wordpress.com

Proudly inclusive

On 17 May, Council celebrated IDAHOBIT – International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia.

IDAHOBIT is a day to celebrate the diversity of our community and reflect on the history of stigma faced by LGBTQIA+ members. Our staff enjoyed tea, coffee and snacks whilst hearing from keynote speaker Daniel Witthaus on his journey challenging homophobia and working on LGBTQIA+ inclusion “one cuppa at a time”.

With community at the heart of everything we do, Council is proud to serve our diverse community and be a champion of the Victorian Gender Equality Act (2020).

Read Council’s Gender Equality Action Plan 2022-26 at www.whitehorse.vic.gov.au/gender-equality

Council supports an age-friendly community where the physical, social and mental wellbeing of older people is promoted and strengthened.

Older people from any background can be affected by elder abuse, which is defined as any act or behaviour that harms an older person. Elder abuse is often carried out by someone the person knows and trusts, such as an adult child, family member, partner, carer or friend.

L More information: elderabuseawarenessday.org.au and if you ever feel at risk of elder abuse, call 1800 ELDERHelp (1800 353 374) or call Victoria Police on 000 in an emergency.

New rules for e-Scooters

Privately owned e-Scooters can now be legally used on low-speed roads and bike paths in Whitehorse under strict conditions.

The Department of Transport updated the rules surrounding privately owned e-Scooters on 5 April, and will monitor their use throughout Victoria over the next six months. You can legally ride your e-Scooter in Whitehorse under the following conditions:

▪ you only ride on shared-use bike paths and on roads with a speed limit of 60km/h or less

▪ you’re over 16 years and wearing a helmet

▪ you ride at a maximum speed of 20km/h or less

▪ your e-Scooter is capable of reaching a maximum speed of 25km/h or less.

As part of the new rules, riding on footpaths is banned due to concerns about public safety.

Riders will also face penalties if they are caught riding while under the influence of alcohol and drugs, using a mobile phone, or carrying a passenger on their e-Scooter.

L For more information on the new rules, please visit: www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/escooters