4 FEBRUARY, 2025
Raising elder abuse awareness Hume Men’s Shed Sunbury is hosting an elder abuse awareness event with Victoria Police this month, forming the first session of a two-part talk series. Shed treasurer Peter Canning said the idea to hold the event stemmed from discussions among members following television commercials about elder abuse. “Some of us were a little confused on what exactly elder abuse was, so we had heard of some conferences that were at the Global Learning Centre in Sunbury about elder abuse, and a couple others went along … and heard completely different definitions of elder abuse to what we assumed,” Mr Canning said. Following the first session with Victoria Police on Wednesday, February 19, a follow-up event with Elder Abuse Australia will be hosted at the shed on Wednesday, April 16. Mr Canning said that Elder Abuse Australia will discuss steps to take if you are a victim of elder abuse, and what can be done to help prevent it. Targeted to a male audience, both events will run from 10–10.30am at the Hume Men’s Shed Sunbury at 158-160 Evans Street, Sunbury, with the general public invited to attend. Details: sunburymensshed.com Hume Men’s Shed Sunbury treasurer Peter Canning, and members Nic Germano, Andrew Wilson, Richard Gibbons, Stephen King, vice president Barry Kelly, and president Ian phillips. (Ljubica Vrankovic). 455702_06
‘Heartless’ cemetery hit By Oscar Parry In a “heartless” act, eight memorial plaques were stolen from the Gisborne Cemetery’s Ironbark Memorial Walk last month. Victoria Police believe the cast bronze plaques were stolen from the Aitken Street cemetery between 10am on January 23 and noon on January 28. The site is managed by Geelong Cemeteries Trust, and acting chief executive Martin Lanyon said he urges those responsible to “understand the pain they’ve caused” to those connected to the affected grave sites and to
return the plaques. “These plaques like all our memorials are not just a marker … they are deeply personal tributes to loved ones,” Mr Lanyon said. “Their actions have also impacted the community, and disrupted the peace and comfort that cemeteries provide. “Our staff have contacted the affected families and are working with them to replace the plaques as soon as possible.” Gisborne resident Rachael Wilson was one of affected by the thefts, with the memorial plaque of a family friend who died at age 18 stolen.
“We were just appalled that something like this would happen, especially in our little community … the people who have done this have overlooked the distressing impact that this has had on families,” Ms Wilson said. Ms Wilson said the plaque of her family friend was stolen just before what would be his 21st birthday on February 10. “Myself and his family are really grateful to the Geelong Cemeteries Trust for putting a temporary plaque on his grave … that certainly has helped to alleviate some of the distress as his birthday approaches,” she said.
“Thinking beyond ourselves, it’s so distressing for others in the community who might be visiting their family or parents or friends to think that something so unkind has happened … we’re just thinking of other families in our community … who are upset that this has happened.” Victoria Police is urging scrap metal dealers to be wary of thieves attempting to sell the plaques, and for anyone who may have witnessed the incident to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or file a confidential report online at www. crimestoppersvic.com.au
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