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MILLA Clark and her mother Kylie Clark have both received Awards of Excellence for their roles at Pt Leo Surf Life Saving Club. Picture: Supplied
Lifesaving awards all in the family TWO members of Point Leo Surf Life Saving Club are among the winners in this year’s Awards of Excellence. Milla Clark was named Athlete of the Year in the under-14 to under-15 section while her mother Kylie Clark was named Official of the Year. The awards are made for outstanding achievements of volunteer lifesavers and of the people who work in many roles across the aquatic industry to help keep the community safe in the water. Milla Clark’s award said she had “showcased exceptional talent and dedication, achieving standout results across multiple surf sports events”. She had also served as junior club captain, mentored Nippers, “and demonstrated remarkable leadership and community spirit”. Kylie Clark “exemplifies dedication and leadership in aquatic sports officiating. Her enthusiasm, leadership, and commitment to personal growth make her a standout role model in the lifesaving community”. “Through our combined efforts to save lives and empower communities to safely enjoy water, we have made an impact that goes far beyond what any of us can see or fully know,” Life Saving Victoria president Paul James said at the award presentation. “For that, I encourage you all to hold your heads high as members of our movement, and for the far-reaching contribution you make to the people of – and visitors to – Victoria.”
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
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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