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Wednesday 4 September 2024
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Family views mother’s tribute THE Powell family, who are scattered across Melbourne, Sydney and Thailand managed to all be in the one place last week to pay a visit to Rye. The purpose of the visit was to see the signage that paid tribute to their mother, Pauline Powell and to take walk along the scenic boardwalk that is now officially called the ‘Pauline Powell Walk’. The family expressed their gratitude to the Rye community and the Shire for paying such an enduring tribute to “our much-loved mum”. The project, supported by Mornington Peninsula Shire, was a joint initiative of Rye Community Group Alliance and the Rye Historical Society. Lynne Woollard the Historical Society’s president said “the sign is a fitting tribute to Pauline. It outlines her commitment, not only to the Rye Historical Society but to many other aspects of the Rye community of which Pauline played a huge part over many years.” Mechelle Cheers, from Rye Community Group Alliance said Pauline was such a well- respected Rye stalwart that it was appropriate that “in 2025, the Pauline Powell Walk will be made longer to go further along the bay side of the scout hall part of the foreshore”. Andrew, Janice and Margie are thrilled that this extension will soon happen. They mentioned that it is such a relevant location as when they were young this was where Pauline took them to play on the beach.
MARGIE Powell, Andrew Powell and Janice Smith (nee Powell). Picture: Supplied
Hospital sued over suicides Brodie Cowburn brodie@mpnews.com.au AFTER a suicide attempt in early 2022, Michael Abeling attended Frankston Hospital twice only to be discharged within hours each time. Just two days after his final visit, he was dead. Abeling’s widow, Rhiannon Abe-
ling, is among one of two families now taking Peninsula Health to court. They allege that their loved ones did not receive appropriate psychiatric treatment at Frankston Hospital prior to their deaths by suicide. Rhiannon Abeling says her husband had reached out for help, but did not receive the assistance he required from the hospital. “He wasn’t someone who had a history of this, he wasn’t at the
hospital every other week. He hated suicide, but he got really depressed,” she said. After a suicide attempt, Abeling said she “sent him to hospital, but three hours later they said they were sending him home.” After another incident in the days that followed, Abeling said the hospital asked to see a referral from a doctor before treating him. After handing the hospital the referral letter, she said
her husband was seen and sent home again shortly afterwards. “Later on we got a call from the outreach team, which went four minutes and 58 seconds. They had bad reception,” Abeling said. “The following day we spoke to a drug and alcohol worker, and they then made contact with the hospital. I went for a nap and woke up to find my husband dead.” A statement of claim filed in the
Supreme Court of Victoria, seen by The News, read that Michael Abeling was first admitted to Frankston Hospital on 8 January, 2022, after a drug overdose and was discharged later that day. On 11 January he expressed to his GP he was suicidal. He was taken to Frankston Hospital and discharged on the same day again. He died by suicide on 13 January. Continued Page 5