ON any given week, 100 people from around Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula gather in Hastings at Kindred Clubhouse, bringing knowledge and care to help each other recover from mental health issues. The clubhouse is a model that is well known across the world, with 350 in 32 countries. Kindred is the only clubhouse in Victoria. This year the clubhouse celebrates its fourth birthday, and founder and manager Stefanie Poole reflected on her motivation for wanting to create a clubhouse in her community. “Imagine being discharged from hospital with no further support, worrying whether you’ll be ok on your own…
Author: Liz Bell
MORE than 8000 people had signed a petition by last weekend to stop an interactive walk-though Harry Potter event at The Briars wildlife sanctuary, Mount Martha. Residents, visitors and wildlife advocates fear Mornington Peninsula Shire Council’s decision to allow Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience in a wildlife sanctuary will harm animals and the environment. Up to 3000 visitors are predicted to attend the event nightly during April and May. The petition started by Save Our Briars Sanctuary (SOBS) urges council to move the event away from the wildlife sanctuary. Thousands of tickets have already been sold and late last…
THE sound of singing is ringing through halls around the Mornington Peninsula as more people seek social connection through community choirs after years of COVID-related withdrawal. Singing together has long been recognised as a way to facilitate social bonding, but it is also known for improving mental health and happiness. The musical director conductor of new community choir, Vox Peninsula’s Jill Linley, said singing together had many health benefits and gave singers a social outlet some might otherwise not have. “It’s great for the soul, and people get so much joy out of it – plus we perform in the…
A 12-month project on the Mornington Peninsula to improve end of life care in residential aged care centres could set a new standard for the treatment of people with life-limiting illnesses. The government financed Community Palliative Care in Aged Care Project is being administered by Peninsula Home Hospice in Mornington. The not-for-profit organisation provides specialist palliative care to people in their home, whether that be residential aged care or the family home. Its team of medical and support professionals focuses on optimising quality of life for people diagnosed with a palliative illness. The project follows on from the Royal Commission…
THE start of the much-hyped container deposit scheme on 1 November has highlighted flaws in the program and drawn criticism from environment groups and the state opposition. The state government financed scheme provides a 10-cent refund for returned eligible cans, cartons and bottles, and has been promoted as an important component of the recycling system and a way to cut litter. But by the second day of the trial, some container bins on the Mornington Peninsula were too full to receive any more due to members of the public loading them up with cans they had been saving. There have…