Media Releases

National’s Member for Rodney, Paul Weller has announced nine sporting groups from across the Electorate have received funding from the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth).

Grants of up to $2,500 have been awarded to groups in Cohuna, Rushworth, Lancaster, Nathalia, Echuca, Leitchville and Stanhope to help train volunteers and to purchase essential sports equipment for injury prevention and management.

Mr Weller said the funds, provided through the VicHealth Active Clubs Grants program, were designed to get more people in the community physically active and to support smaller regional and rural clubs that often need extra support.

“In Victoria, half of all adults do not get enough exercise. As well as the physical benefits, research also shows that sport builds community pride and loyalty and offers people the chance to get involved, providing them with a positive sense of self-worth,” Mr Weller said.

“Regular physical activity not only protects against many illnesses, it also makes us mentally healthy, alert and resilient against the stresses of modern-day life,” he said.

Across the Rodney Electorate, the Cohuna Pony Club and Golf Club have received VicHealth funds as well as the Nathalia Little Athletics Club and Pony Club.

Other clubs to receive funds include the football and netball club at Rushworth and Lancaster, the Rich River Ram Superules Club at Echuca, the Leitchville Bowls Club and the Stanhope Cricket Club.

This year’s VicHealth grants were prioritised to support people over 60 years, who traditionally have low rates of sports participation, as well as young people aged five to 17 years.

For the first time, 64 sporting clubs across the state received defibrillators to better respond to on-field emergencies.

Mr Weller said the grants were aimed at creating a healthier sporting environment for all people to participate and VicHealth acknowledged the importance of continued funding to all sporting groups across the state.

“The funds allow all our sporting clubs to continue to provide a valuable service in the Rodney Electorate, not just for sport and fitness, but for getting people together as well,” Mr Weller said. 

“The social interaction of sporting groups provides friendship and a strong sense of community, also an important ingredient for good health,” he said.

Member for Rodney Paul Weller was pleased that so many people took up the invite to have a free mammogram at BreastScreen Victoria’s mobile Screening Unit when it was in Echuca recently.

Mr Weller said that “I am pleased that so many women in north central Victoria are participating in this vital program.  I urge women over 50 years of age to look out for the unit as it travels across regional Victoria and book in to get their free screening.” 

“I would also like to congratulate the employees who work so diligently in manning and organising the mobile BreastScreen unit as their work is life saving and greatly appreciated,” Mr Weller said.

 

Member for Rodney, Paul Weller has recognised the importance of raising awareness of ovarian cancer during the month of February.

February is National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month and Ovarian Cancer Australia wants to remind women of the symptoms and risks of ovarian cancer.

Three women in Australia are diagnosed every day and every 11 hours a women dies from ovarian cancer. There is not detection test for ovarian cancer so learning the risks and recognising the symptoms is critical. Research shows 70% of cases are diagnosed too late when the cancer is difficult to treat successfully.

However, if ovarian cancer is discovered in its early stages the majority of women will make a full recovery.

“Ovarian Cancer Australia is the country’s leading organisation for ovarian cancer awareness, support, advocacy and research and they have asked us to promote their cause in any way we can,” Mr Weller said.

“Ovarian cancer is the sixth most common cause of cancer death in Australian women and it’s important for women to learn the symptoms and act accordingly,” he said.

The four types of symptoms most frequently reported are:

1) Abdominal or pelvic pain

2) Increased abdominal size or persistent abdominal bloating

3) Needing to urinate often or urgently

4) Difficulty eating or feeling full quickly

It is important to note that whilst many women may experience these symptoms from time to time, if these symptoms are new or persist for two weeks or more, then women should consult a doctor to find out the cause.

“Ways in which you can help promote awareness of ovarian cancer include informing yourself, and others, about the many symptoms of ovarian cancer and take part in fund-raising activities throughout the month of February,” Mr Weller said.

One of the ways you can help raise awareness and funds for ovarian cancer is to purchase and wear a Teal Ribbon on Wednesday, February 29th. The ribbons can be purchased on the ovarian cancer website at www.ovariancancer.net.au or contact 1300 660 334.

 

Echuca Regional Health has been granted $150,000 by the Victorian Coalition Government to complete the development of its state-of-the-art Education Centre.

In announcing the funding today, Member for Rodney Paul Weller said the health service would now be in a position to renovate and establish an additional 24-bed accommodation section of the centre.

Mr Weller said he was made aware by ERH in November that the project faced a funding shortfall and had made representations to the Victorian Health Minister David Davis immediately.

He said he was delighted the minister had approved his request for funding in such a short time frame.

“This funding allocation is sensational news for Echuca Regional Health and means the Education Centre project can be completed without delay.

“It also comes at a very exciting time in the history of our health service which is about to embark on its $65.6 million redevelopment project.”

Mr Weller said the ERH Education Centre was a state-of-the-art teaching and accommodation facility for tertiary health students.

He said the project commenced in November 2009 when ERH purchased the 60 bed Engelbert Lodge nursing home on the hospital site.

“Since then ERH has progressively undertaken renovations to convert the building to a combined clinical training area and 44 bed accommodation Education Centre.

“Stage 1 of the project has been completed, however a funding shortfall to complete the renovation of the final 24 bedrooms was identified late last year.”

Mr Weller said programs offered through the ERH Education Centre were helping to address shortfalls in the rural medical and nursing workforces within the organisation.

He said the facility was already seeing a range of participants from secondary school to post graduate students on clinical placements and within clinical education programs.

The total cost of the project is expected to be approximately $5 million.

Member for Rodney Paul Weller has encouraged local women in their 50s and 60s to have a free screening mammogram every two years.

The call follows the release of results by BreastScreen Victoria this week showing that 57% of the eligible female population in the Rodney electorate underwent screening between 2008 and 2010.

Mr Weller said while the figure was above the state average of 53.8%, it was paramount that more women took up the opportunity to have a free breast screen.

“The biggest risk factor for breast cancer is being a woman over 50 years of age,” he said.

“Whilst I am encouraged that we are above the Victorian average and that so many women in north central Victoria are participating in this vital program, we need to see a much higher participation rate among women in the 50-69 year age bracket if we are to achieve substantial reductions in mortality from breast cancer.”

Mr Weller said BreastScreen Victoria was aiming to reach a 60% state-wide participation rate by 2015.

“BreastScreen Victoria is inviting women aged 50-69 years of age who do not have breast symptoms or changes, to have a free screening mammogram every two years.

“Regular screening mammograms are the best way to find breast cancer early, before any symptoms are noticed, and when treatment is likely to be most successful.”

The BreastScreen Mobile Screening Unit travels across regional Victoria and will be in Echuca from December 2011 until March 2012.

No doctor’s referral is needed and appointments can be made by contacting 132050.

Fixed screening services are also located at Goulburn Valley Screening Centre in Shepparton and at Bendigo Screening and Assessment Service in Bendigo.

Residents across rural and regional Victoria who require assistance travelling to medical appointments in Melbourne are being encouraged to access free help through the Medical Companion Project.

Nationals Member for Rodney Paul Weller said the initiative, launched earlier this year, was improving access to public transport for many country Victorians who were frail, disabled, ill or feeling anxious about their journey to the city.

Mr Weller said the Medical Companion Project was funded through the Victorian Coalition Government’s Transport Connections Program which aimed to help communities work together to improve access and local transport options.

He said the Cohuna District Hospital had undertaken a lead agency role in the project and Travellers Aid Australia was providing the day-to-day coordination and service delivery.

“This important project has brought a dedicated team of trained Melbourne volunteers together with country Victorians travelling to Melbourne for health appointments,” Mr Weller said.

“As part of the initiative, travellers can call and book a volunteer to meet them at Southern Cross Station or Flinders Street Station and accompany them to and from their medical appointment in the Melbourne CBD using public transport.

“The service is free and may be used by senior Victorians, the seriously ill or people with a disability.”

Mr Weller said he received regular inquiries from constituents across the Rodney electorate who required assistance to access medical appointments in Melbourne.

He said they included people who were suffering from serious illness, the elderly, frail, disabled and people with limited family support.

“This is a wonderful program for regional people who would like to be able to travel to central Melbourne independently using public transport, but feel anxious or nervous about using these services alone.

“Passengers have the choice of using taxis, trams or buses whilst in Melbourne, and the volunteer companions are experienced in using all three modes of transport.”

Mr Weller said people using the service were only required to cover their own public transport travel ticket costs.

He encouraged residents across the region to utilise the program which was being trialled until December 2011.

People interested in accessing the volunteer-assisted service when travelling to Melbourne should telephone Travellers Aid on 1300 700 399 at least 24 hours prior to their expected travel date.

For further information please contact Mr Weller’s electorate office on 5482 2039.

Yearly Ambulance Victoria membership fees will be slashed in half from July 1, Member for Rodney Paul Weller said today.

Mr Weller said the Victorian Coalition Government had delivered on its pledge to make ambulance membership more affordable for all Victorians.

“From July 1, ambulance membership costs will drop from $150 to $75 a year for families and $75 to $37.50 a year for singles – that is just 20 cents a day for families and 10 cents a day for singles,” he said.

“This is similar to prices for ambulance membership fees in 1993 when membership cost $70 for families and $35 for singles.”

Around two million Victorians are members of the Ambulance Membership Subscription Scheme.

Mr Weller said in the event of an emergency, Ambulance Victoria members do not have to pay transport costs which can exceed $900.

“To treat and transport patients in emergencies is an expensive exercise,” he said.

“After 11 years of rising cost of living pressures under Labor, the Coalition Government is taking action to reduce these pressures on families in the Rodney electorate.

“Victoria’s paramedics are some of the best trained and most experienced paramedics in Australia.

“With 100 per cent cover, and 50 per cent off, there is now simply no reason to risk being caught without Ambulance Victoria membership.”

Mr Weller said the cut in membership fee will encourage even more Victorians to join, ensuring people can access ambulance services whenever required without concern for cost.

“We know Victorian families are experiencing rising living costs and deserve cheaper access to our vital ambulance services,” he said.

“That is why the Government delivered $241.9 million over four years to halve the cost of Ambulance Victoria membership.”

Mr Weller said the Government was also delivering on its $151 million commitment to employ 340 additional ambulance staff over the next five years, increasing paramedic numbers beyond 3000 for the first time in Victorian history.

Nationals Member for Rodney Paul Weller has joined the fight against heart disease and urged all residents to support the Heart Foundation’s Go Red For Women campaign.

 

Mr Weller said the campaign aimed to raise awareness of heart disease as the number one killer of Australian women.

 

He said he had joined the Go Red for Women movement to help raise awareness of heart disease amongst women in north central Victoria.

 

“The statistics regarding women and heart disease are startling,” he said.

 

“Heart disease kills four times as many women as breast cancer and almost as many women as men, yet research has found that most people still assume heart disease only affects older men.”

 

As part of this year’s Go Red for Women campaign the Heart Foundation will stage a Healthy Heart Challenge as a practical way for women to improve their health.

 

The challenge starts on June 1 and is a free 10-week challenge designed to provide women with realistic steps to build changes into their lifestyle to improve their heart health in the long-term.

 

On registering, participants will be asked to select one of six key goals and they will be supported to achieve this through weekly tips and information to keep them motivated.

 

“It’s a fantastic initiative and I encourage as many residents as possible to take up the challenge to improve their heart health,” Mr Weller said.

 

“The Heart Foundation’s target is to have 20,000 Australian women sign up nationwide.”

 

Registration for the challenge is available at www.goredforwomen.org.au.

Nationals MP Paul Weller has welcomed last night’s federal budget funding commitment of $12.1 million for the redevelopment of Echuca Regional Health.

 

Mr Weller said the funding came on top of the $40 million committed by the Victorian Coalition Government last week and $13.5 million announced by the state and federal governments in August last year.

 

He said the $65.6 million funding package would enable the entire first stage of the health service’s redevelopment project to be completed.

 

“This is a terrific result for ERH and the Echuca-Moama community as it means this long overdue and critically important health project can proceed without interruption.

 

“The hospital management, board, staff and community supporters have done an outstanding job in campaigning for this funding and should all feel very proud of what they have achieved.”

 

Mr Weller said the hospital’s board and management had worked tirelessly to ensure the detailed planning required by both state and federal governments had been carried out.

 

He said the $65.6 million would fund the cost of redeveloping and expanding Echuca hospital, including a new 24 bed sub-acute ward, a new accident and emergency department, maternity, paediatric, surgical and medical wards, a new pharmacy, new medical records area, new x-ray department and new reception, public cafeteria and entry foyer.

 

“The existing hospital is in a distressing state of health.  Some of the buildings are 120 years old and the emergency department and wards are crumbling and do not meet current standards for expected patient privacy and dignity.

“Hospital staff have done a wonderful job in providing high class health care in such testing conditions and I am sure they are elated that this is all about to change.”

Mr Weller said the redevelopment was one of the most exciting projects to take place in the region in many years.

 

“$65.6 million is a significant amount of money which will produce enormous benefits, not only to the quality of health services and staff morale, but also to the local economy,” he said.

 

“I look forward, along with the entire community, to watching this exciting project unfold and come to fruition.”

Victorian Health Minister David Davis will visit Echuca Regional Health this month to attend a briefing on the hospital’s redevelopment project.

 

The visit is at the invitation of Nationals Member for Rodney Paul Weller, who will attend the April 19 briefing along with the hospital board and management.

 

In State Parliament this week Mr Weller thanked the Minister for his ongoing commitment to the upgrade of Echuca Regional Health.

 

“The Liberal-National Coalition brought great joy to the people of Echuca and district when it came to power at the November election and committed $40 million to this exciting and long-overdue project,” he said.

 

“This $40 million commitment is in stark contrast to Labor’s refusal to acknowledge or fund the desperately needed upgrade during its 11 years in government.”

 

Mr Weller said the Baillieu-Ryan Government’s commitment included a new accident and emergency department, maternity, paediatric, surgical and medical wards, a pharmacy and a new reception, public cafeteria and entry foyer.

 

“At the conclusion of the redevelopment, hospital bed numbers will increase from the current level of 68 to 113, representing a 66 per cent increase,” he said.

 

“This in itself will provide a major boost in the ability of the hospital to deliver the full range of health services so necessary in a large and ever-growing regional centre.”

 

Mr Weller said the Baillieu-Ryan Government had recently written to the Federal Minister for Health and Ageing seeking additional funding under the Health and Hospitals Fund for further additional works at Echuca Regional Health.

 

He said departmental officers were continuing to work with the Board and Executive at ERH on detailed planning and design to further progress the project.