With the approaching second anniversary of the Register in October, it is very satisfying to see that registrations continue to grow. It is also pleasing to see ongoing support in the form of donations from a number of individuals, organizations and clubs on the Bellarine Peninsula. We are most appreciative of this support which enables the Register to continue to operate successfully.
May I recommend to you two publications, produced by VICROADS that offer important information for older people in our community. The first, the Victorian Older Drivers’ Handbook, provides much relevant information for the older driver as well as a checklist to encourage you to think about your driving, and to find ways in which it might be improved. Older drivers need to stay alert to their changing health factors, such as eye sight and medical conditions, etc.
The second publication, the Guide to choosing and using Motorized Mobility Devices, offers important information regarding road rules and handy tips for safe travel to users of such devices.
Both publications are available for download on the VICROADS website, www.vicroads.vic.gov.au or from any VICROADS office.
With winter behind us, now is the time to get out and about and enjoy the spring sunshine.
Regards
Gary Coombes,
Acting Inspector
COMMITTEE REPORT
As part of its future planning and financial viability the Committee is proposing that a two year evaluation be carried out at the completion of the Register’s first two years of operation.
The independently conducted evaluation to include an assessment of :-
The value of the Register to Registrants
The public profile in the community
The value of the Register to Victoria Police
The financial viability of the Register
The effectiveness of the administrative structure of the Bellarine Police Community Support Register Inc. organization.
UPDATE ON FUNDING
The Committee gratefully acknowledges the following donations received during May, June and July 2008.
Grants
Magistrates Court of Victoria $250.00
Donations
Ocean Grove Senior Citizens Club $ 50.00
All Saints Anglican OP Shop, Barwon Heads $200.00
St. Leonard’s Retirees balance of account $349.88
12 Registrants $255.00
RECOGNITION
On Thursday 16 October we will be celebrating our second anniversary.
To recognize this event we are offering the following “freebies” on or after the 16th October:-
The first twelve Registrants who telephone the Office will receive a free 9 volt smoke detector battery per courtesy of the Ocean Grove Fire Brigade.
The first four Registrants who convince someone to register will receive a free personal alarm.
The first Registrant who convinces four people to register will receive a free key safe.
Note: To become eligible for items 2 and 3 your name would need to appear on the Registration Form as the “word of mouth” referral.
REGISTRATIONS
You may be interested to know as at the 30 June 2008 we had recorded 1148 registrations. We encourage you to talk to your friends and neighbours about the Register. According to the registration forms received 16.52% of registrations are due to “word of mouth”. Recently one Registrant wrote:
“My grateful thanks for this caring service, especially for us Oldies”.
There are now Registrants of all ages ranging from
1 to 49.99 years ( 20 Registrants) to 100 to 110 years ( 2 Registrants)
The largest age group currently being registered is that of
60 to 79.99 years ( 428 Registrants)
20% of Registrants have requested a regular telephone call
35% of Registrants live with pets, with 5% of those Registrants not having notified the Register of any emergency arrangements for their pets.
We wish all centenarians good health, pleasurable quality of life and longevity.
DID YOU KNOW?
“Australians now have the fourth longest life expectancy in the world – after the Japanese, Swiss and the Icelanders. Currently, there are 2860 Australians over the age of 100 and that is expected to increase to 78,000 by 2055. “
Source Fifty Plus News
We wish all centenarians good health, pleasurable quality of life and longevity.
To quote from Good Weekend Magazine, The Age July 26, 2008, an article called “Aged to Perfection”, reports on the number of centenarians living in some villages in Sardinia and says Sardinians greet one another with “A kent’annos” “May you live to be 100.”
PETS
Have you talked to your regular Vet lately about the care of your pets, and also
emergency services for pets which are available should you suddenly become
hospitalized?
Eg. Some boarding kennels will collect pets if their owners are rushed to hospital.
FRIDGE MAGNETS
During the last two years we have been given samples of various Fridge Magnets, which include space for detailed medical data.
We realize that the availability of this information would certainly assist with any emergency treatment particularly, if the person requiring such treatment was unconscious. However, when we launched the Register we did consider the need by paramedics for this information, but rejected the idea because of the difficulty in keeping the data up to date.
If this is an issue you feel we should address – either to replace the existing Fridge Magnet or to assist with the supply of other options- would you please let us know. If there is general interest in other options it might be possible for the Register to purchase from a supplier, on a similar basis as for the key safes etc.
THINK AGAIN CAMPAIGN
Have you heard about the THINK AGAIN CAMPAIGN recently launched by the Geelong Advertiser? The Geelong Advertiser, local government and non-government agencies, including the Greater Geelong Local Safety Committee, is advocating for improved safety throughout the Geelong community.
HAVE YOU HAD A CHUCKLE LATELY?
When does Thursday come before Wednesday? In a dictionary.
Two antennas got married. The wedding was bad, but the reception was great.
kidsview@the age.com.au
What happened to the sheep-dog when it ate some jelly?
It got the collie wobbles
Which hand would you use to pick up a poisonous snake?
Someone else’s.
Addy newshound
COMMUNICATION
Are you finding the latest technology very frustrating to use? How do you communicate with your grand children? Are you able to use the latest telephone systems, mobile telephones, emails and the internet? Possibly they are the last things you want to use but more and more these are becoming the standard means of communication. Do many people write letters any more?
If you would like to more easily manage your communications, why not consider talking to the staff at your nearest Neighborhood House? New courses are being designed all the time to assist people and you may find others have similar concerns. Also talk to them if transport is a problem - they may be able to suggest some alternative options.
NEW REGISTRANTS
We have discovered some new Registrants have been overlooking locating their Window Sticker near their entrance door. As you know we encourage people to do this, because it does indicate to emergency personnel that your contact and emergency details are available on the data base.
From now on we will be telephoning each New Registrant to have a chat and to see if they have any queries.
DATES FOR THE DIARY
Portarlington Golf Club Charity Day for Register
If you are a golfer why not assist with our fund-raising
and enjoy a game at the same time?
Publicity will be available shortly.
Police Band Concert, 1.30p.m. Parks Hall, Portarlington
REMINDER
Please don’t forget to notify the Register office if your circumstances or contact details change, or if you have requested a telephone call and you will be away from home when your regular call is due.
ENQUIRIES
The Bellarine Police Community Support Register Inc office is staffed by volunteers each week day from 9.30am until 12 noon.
Telephone 03 5255 3968.
Correspondence should be addressed to P.O. Box 819 Ocean Grove 3226.
Email address: bpsupportregister@bigpond.com
If you wish to visit the Register’s website go to www.community-support.blogspot.com
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