The Catholic Weekly 12 July 2020

catholicweekly.com.au 10 NEWS 12, July, 2020 catholicsuper.com.au We’re here to help you cameras installed to monitor compliance. In light of such measures, the importance of the men- tal and physical wellbeing of people – especially in the win- ter season – is crucial, CSSV said in a statement issued this week. “Catholic social service agencies will continue to co- Agencies want respect CATHOLIC SOCIAL Services Victoria has called for great- er respect by authorities for the approximately 3,000 res- idents in the nine – and pos- sibly now ten - public housing estate towers in Melbourne during the Victorian Govern- ment’s enforced COVID-19 lockdown. “The Victorian Govern- ment has particular responsi- bility for these individuals and families who they have direct- ed to be house-bound for at least five days,” CSSV said in a recent media statement. “Their welfare is of key con- cern to us during this time.” At least 53 COVID-19 cas- es have been recorded in the public housing buildings in Flemington and North Mel- bourne. Cases are expected to rise. The towers house some of Melbourne’s most vulnerable citizens with many who are on low incomes, living with a disability, or who are recent arrivals from war-torn coun- tries. There are also concerns about overcrowding in the blocks in the shared laundry facilities and dense living quarters. The Victorian Government says it is promising to ensure everyone living in the towers gets food, medical assistance, medicine and drug and alco- hol addiction support.  At least 500 police officers per shift have been tasked to guard the residents and en- sure the buildings are in lock- down. All entry and exit points are monitored with CCTV operatively serve and assist residents at this time. We stand in readiness to work with Government and their designated agencies to pro- vide a person-centred re- sponse in line with the Catho- lic tradition of upholding the dignity and preciousness of each person.” CSSV said it supports the Victorian Government’s moves to help the residents – especially with the appoint- ing of Tony Nicholson, former Brotherhood of St Laurence Executive Director and expe- rienced social services mem- ber – to assist in the delicate situation. “We appreciate that the Government has acknowl- edged the complexity of many of the situations of individuals, families and households who are residents of these towers.” A number of Catholic Church social service agencies have served and been a part of the community in North Melbourne and Flemington for many years. Agency repre- sentatives have said they are intimately aware of the com- plex challenges facing those who live in, and have created a community around, the high- rise towers.  Victoria is currently the ep- icentre of the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia with daily cases on the rise. According to national me- dia, Australia’s COVID-19 Growth Factor is at 1.11 as of 7 July – above the manageable growth factor of 1.0. The border between New South Wales and Victoria has closed as a result. ¾ ¾ David Ryan People unload food and provisions from the back of a ute which will be distributed by firefighters throughout the public housing towers in North Melbourne. PHOTO:AAP IMAGE/JAMES ROSS In brief Warning silenced AMAZON.COM HAS banned well-known American publishing company Regnery Pub- lishing, from buying ads to promote a new book warning of the dangers of transgender ideology pos- es to young women and girls. “The cancel culture hasmade it clear that it de- spises diversity of opinion, and it will not tolerate sci- ence, data, facts, or any- thing that contradicts the approvednarrative,” read a Tweet from the publisher. Call Steve (02) 9390 5404 or Paul (02) 9390 5406 THE MARKET PLACE For all your Business, Trades & Events see PG 22 Your Business Directory PUBLISHED 26 JULY 2020 For more details phone Steve on (02) 9390 5404. THE GOOD CHARITIES GUIDE College in a buzz EMORY & Henry College, in the US state of Virgin- ia is ‘reconsidering’ their school emblem, a Wasp. According to emails be- tween the College’s pres- ident and Alumni direc- tor obtained by a student group, a change is being considered because of the animal’s name being as- sociated with the acronym W.A.S.P –White Anglo Sax- on Protestant.