Library open to all
Gabrielle Duykers. Members of the public can now step foot inside the Naracoorte library following the opening of its doors last week. The $2.38 million library, located at 93 Smith Street, has seen the former Naracoorte Herald building transform into a much-needed central community space.
Phone tower’s mixed reception
Gabrielle Duykers. The unveiling of a long-awaited phone tower in Keilira last week should have seen the community celebrating, but some residents remain concerned about a lack of coverage ... "There has been concern from the community, particularly those that were affected by the fire, that their coverage hadn't really improved all that much or they're not getting any coverage at all”: Kay Rasheed, Kingston DC Mayor.
Little lobsters, large impact
Gabrielle Duykers. A unique Kingston art project will see participants fashion miniature lobsters out of ocean rubbish, in the hopes of increasing public understanding on the dangers of plastic pollution. The project is part of the Fringe on Tour Festival which will visit the coastal community from March 4 to March 6.
Govt spent $6.2m on locum GPs, not locals
Chris Oldfield. The SA Government’s Limestone Coast Local Health Network spent $6.2 million on locum doctors in 2020-21. And it has now hired an international locum agency to fill Naracoorte hospital’s emergency roster with medical officers, not locals ... Crippled by the escalating rural doctor crisis, for 27 days during 2020-21 the government left the Naracoorte Hospital without an on-call doctor or locum.
Trainees for Naracoorte and Millicent
Chris Oldfield. Naracoorte and Millicent have welcomed three new paramedic trainees to their dedicated SA Ambulance Service (SAAS) teams. Jasmine White has joined Naracoorte, while Ben Merchant and Amy-Lee Hay have teamed up with Millicent's SAAS.
Gust takes on Upper House
Gabrielle Duykers. An Apsley farmer and community advocate is running as a candidate for the state Legislative Council in the upcoming election. Paula Gust has joined the Advance SA Party in the hopes of securing a seat in the Upper House at the State Election on March 19.
Fountain flows anew
Gabrielle Duykers. After being out of order for almost a decade, the distinctive fountain afront the Naracoorte Regional Art Gallery is flowing once again thanks to community efforts. The Ibis Rising fountain was installed in 2005 and is the work of Melbourne based sculptor and potter Heather Ellis, who also produced the William Mackintosh bust in Jones Street.
Keith Hospital model unveiled
Gabrielle Duykers. A newly proposed healthcare model for Keith and District Hospital would see it move into the public local health network, but 24/7 care has been excluded from the plan ... As part of the transition, the current Keith and District Hospital Governing Board could potentially morph into a Health Advisory Council (HAC), a consultative body which works with SA Health to provide advice on health service needs and priorities for the community.
