Established in 1902 as the
proudly serving Wyndham
4 DECEMBER, 2024
Giddy-up it’s the cup! The Werribee Cup is back and promising to be bigger and better than ever. From 11.30am to 6.30pm on Sunday, December 8, the Werribee Racecourse will be rocking as Wyndham’s premier race meet is set to have guests on the edge of their seats. You would be hard-pressed to find a better way to gather family, friends and colleagues in the summer weather to celebrate Christmas, reward a year of good work or just have a blast on a great day out. Racegoers won’t have to worry about the sun, as there will be plenty of outside grandstand seating for those wanting to watch the races in the shade. A range of packages and activities means that there will be something for everyone. Those not interested in the pomp and pageantry found at Flemington will be pleased to know that country casual is encouraged. Umbrella, marquee and dining packages are available, parking is free, and youngsters under 17 go free with an accompanying adult. Tickets: https://country.racing.com/ werribee/calendar/werribee-cup
Beena Jutarat Phetmeeka and Rachael Dawson are ready for the Werribee Cup. (Damjan Janevski) 446490_05
Nurse strike hits hospital Nurses from St Vincent’s Private Hospital in Werribee were among those who stopped work last week in demand of better working conditions. Nurses and midwives from St Vincent’s Private in Werribee, Fitzroy, East Melbourne and Kew stopped work for more than two hours as part of an escalation of The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation’s (Victorian Branch) industrial
action. Despite conceding that St Vincent’s Private management have offered some improvements to pay and working conditions, the ANMF said there has been a refusal to address understaffing and high patient workloads. ANMF senior industrial officer Leigh Hubbard said the lack of mandated staff to patient ratios across the organisation’s private hospitals was unfair to nurses and midwives and their patients. “How is it that other St Vincent’s public and
Werribee Cup - 8th December 2024
private hospitals have ratios and Victoria’s St Vincent’s Private Hospitals don’t?” he said. “Members tell us they want to give quality care and are unable to. “Nurses are stressed and leave work exhausted because they are missing breaks just to make sure patients are getting care – St Vincent’s Private needs to listen to their employees because it is unsafe.” Victorian public hospitals have had minimum ratios in the enterprise agreement since 2001 and in legislation since 2015,
which research shows has improved quality and safety of patient care, reducing incidents of patient complications and even patient deaths, according to the ANMF. St Vincent’s Private chief executive Janine Loader said she was “disappointed” the union rejected the hospital’s two initial offers. “As a not-for-profit hospital, St Vincent’s is committed to achieving a fair agreement for our nurses and midwives. We will continue negotiating in good faith to achieve this,” she said.
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By Jaidyn Kennedy