AVERSE TO CHANGING MELTON
As Melton begins to merge,
Into a suburb of the city.
We’re losing our identity,
Of a place that’s green and pretty.
With the population growing,
At an ever-increasing rate.
We lose our culture just a bit,
With every new estate.
I know that growth is envied,
And that our council likes to prove.
But for me I like a little space,
And I think it’s time to move.
JOSH VINECOMBE \ MELTON SOUTH
MENTAL HEALTH FOR SENIORS
Last week marked the Victorian Seniors Festival, a good time to focus on the contribution older people make to our community.
It’s also time to remind people that, as they get older, they don’t have to put up with depression and anxiety.
Research by the National Ageing Research Institute suggests that 10-15 per cent of older people experience depression.
Research also shows a quarter of older people wrongly think depression is a normal part of ageing; more than two-thirds believe it’s embarrassing to admit to having depression; and, compared to younger people, significantly fewer over-65s recognise depression as a major mental health issue.
Older people are more likely to develop depression and anxiety because of health problems, loss of independence and self-worth, loss of relationships and social isolation.
If you talk to a health professional, you can get treatment that will make you feel better and allow you to live life more fully.
KATE CARNELL \ CEO, BEYONDBLUE
WOMEN’S HEALTH FEARS (Weekly, October 8)
Figures showing only 51.6 per cent of women in Melton had pap tests between 2009 and 2011 are similar to those seen across Victoria. A group from La Trobe University is looking to target this problem by raising awareness of the importance of having pap tests every two years. Help us spread the word. Visit www.facebook.com/paptestsyolo
SARAH \ VIA WEB
NEIGHBOURHOOD DISPUTES (Weekly, October 1)
Western suburb councils always boast of their diversity, but this comes at the expense of unity. When suburbs become like international airports there’s no longer a concept of community but rather a gathering of people with nothing in common.
JASON \ VIA WEB
