AS a pensioner living in Cohuna for decades, where I have raised my family and involved myself in the community, I was disappointed to see the shire’s stance on the Cohuna aerodrome. Why has it been left to the Cohuna Aviation Club to make us aware of what the shire has done, let alone, hasn’t done?
The air ambulance service, supported by our doctors and hospital, is a critical service that should be above politics. I congratulate Cr Sonia Wright for at least doing her job, but I am left a little cold knowing others didn’t support the upgrade opportunity.
Dr Barker and his team are the ones working in the middle of the night and doing their best to save patients. The shire has a responsibility not to make that job any harder and should applaud the effort the aviation club has attempted to make to fix the shortcomings of our aerodrome.
Our community always supports our hospital and doctors with a great deal of pride.
I noted in Friday’s paper that the shire claims to be offended by their decisions being made public, which really does make me wonder!
Barbara Barry,
Cohuna.
Healthy access
I REFER to some recent articles published in the Gannawarra Times relating to the car parking at Kerang District Health. This work is part of the final works relating to the $36.3 million capital redevelopment of Kerang District Health.
In receiving comments from community members, most comments relate to the removal of the angle car parking at the front door of the allied health building and I will attempt to explain the reasoning for this.
In designing the main entrance to the new health service, Kerang District Health is encouraging all visitors to the health service to park in the new carpark and enter the building via the main entrance. Visitors are encouraged to drop off elderly and frail clients and visitors under the new canopy and then park their car. The two closest parking spaces to the main entrance are allocated to disabled clients.
In removing cars from in front of the allied health building we have purposely attempted to separate pedestrian access and motor vehicle access to this area. The removal of car parking was to make this area solely for use by pedestrians not cars. Our observations of this area over the past 12 months have seen cars backing into oncoming traffic in Burgoyne Street and pedestrians with young children and prams walking between cars.
Whilst this area appears to be completed, there are still some time-restricted parking spaces that are to be installed near the front door of the allied health building and this will allow closer access to clients accessing services in this building.
In closing, although initial feedback on the new car parking at the health service has so far been negative, there is still more work to be carried out and I do acknowledge the time taken by community members in expressing their views.
Robert Jarman,
Chief executive officer,
Kerang District Health.
Cemetery praise
RECENTLY I visited the Kerang Cemetery with my family and I am moved to write and commend the Kerang Cemetery Trust, caretakers and the Kerang residents on the state of the cemetery.
The grounds have been kept neat and tidy and seeing how bright and colourful it looked, made me proud of Kerang.
Gwen McCurdy,
Benalla.
Lily Walk thanks
THE Red Lily Walk was held on April 30 at Riverside Park, Kerang, with the option to walk or run the two levee banks as well, which most people did do.
Thank you to the many people who came along for the lovely sunny morning for the walk and for your generous support in raising funds for cancer treatment, welfare and research.
Our thanks to Nola Robinson, who was our informative guest speaker and spoke about her journey with melanoma and her encouragement to everyone to be vigilant with health checks.
Thanks to the businesses and many people who donated towards the day, which enabled us to make a profit of $2550. Raffle winners were Barb Campbell and Heather Foster.
We look forward to your continued support for this worthy cause and hope to see you at our pamper night and fashion parade in October.
Cheryl Beale,
Kerang Happy Hour Relay for Life Team.
