My brother, my sister and my mum all went to the Ararat playground.

I forgot my Pokémon books and left them at the swings.

I had got them for Christmas and they were very special.

We went to the Gum San museum and after an hour we realized that the books were missing.

We drove back to the playground and the books were still there.

There were a lot of people at the swings but no-one had taken them.

Thanks to the people of Ararat for keeping my books safe.

Jack (7) and Anna (8)

Brunswick

We note from news reports of the recent death of pioneering astronomer Dr Vera Rubin who died in the America aged 88.

She is credited with discovering powerful evidence for the existence of Dark Matter and many feel that she should have received a Nobel Prize for her work.

As Stawell is in the process of seeing the first Dark Matter Laboratory in the Southern hemisphere established in the Stawell Gold Mine we would like to suggest to the Australian Academy of Sciences and to Melbourne University who are behind the development of this laboratory that they should dedicate it to Dr Rubin.

We believe that this action would not only recognise the work of Dr Rubin but also bring a greater international focus on the new laboratory.

Rotary has suggested that to the Northern Grampians Shire that serious consideration be given to establishing a public gallery-observatory on Big Hill to encourage people to visit Stawell and to learn about the laboratory and its work and a little about cosmology and the observable universe.

We would would very much welcome public interest and support for these ideas and maybe as they develop, it would encourage Rotary International, and other benevolent funds here and overseas to contribute to both projects.

John Launder PHF

PP Stawell Rotary Club

I am calling for a boost in local breast screening following the release of participation statistics for the Lowan electorate.

About 57.5 per cent of women in the Lowan Electorate are reported as having a regular breast screen every two years. This is slightly higher than the state participation rate of 52.3 per cent for women aged between 50 to 74, however well below the state target of 70 per cent.

I commend local women who make use of the BreastScreen Victoria program and encourage them to continue to prioritise their health.

This free service can have a substantial impact on people’s lives and a short 10 minute appointment could be live-saving.

The biggest risk factor for breast cancer is being a woman over 50 years of age, with one in eight Victorian women diagnosed with the disease.

Statistics show 75 per cent of women diagnosed will be over the age of 50, the vast majority of whom will have no family history of the disease.

Having a breast screen is the best way of finding cancer early before any symptoms are noticed and when treatment is likely to be most successful.

Finding cancer early saves lives and I urge more local women to make a breast screen appointment today.

It is important for all women to know the normal look and feel of their breasts. If you notice any breast changes, nipple discharge or a lump, it is important that you visit your doctor as soon as possible, before you make an appointment at BreastScreen Victoria.

Emma Kealy MP

Member for Lowan