Health

All five candidates contesting the seat of MacKillop have declared support for establishing radiotherapy services in the Limestone Coast, according to written responses provided to the Limestone Coast Radiation Treatment Working Group ahead of this month's state election ... Ahead of the meeting, candidates were invited to provide written responses to a series of questions regarding the provision of radiotherapy services...

It is rare for someone under the age of 12 to get shingles while people over the age of 50 are most at risk, according to the WA Department of Health. The department said shingles is a viral infection caused by the varicella zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox and is a common health condition in older people.

Patricia Gill. Registered nurse Yvette Caruso found joy in two, month-long stints aboard Mercy hospital ships offering African people life-changing surgery and medicine ... Over January, Yvette joined the surgical team aboard the Global Mercy berthed at Freetown in the west African nation, Sierra Leone.

Claims that Corryong Health will struggle to meet its immediate financial commitments have been refuted by board chairman, Ian Cesa. Liberal Member for Berwick, Brad Battin, alleged last Thursday that several hospitals in the North East including Corryong are operating with little cash on hand.

NSW Farmers says plans to pollute rural and regional communities with Sydney’s rubbish should be immediately rejected. The proposed Parkes Incinerator would burn 700,000 tonnes of Sydney's red-bin rubbish each year if approved, and NSW Farmers Vice President Rebecca Reardon said it was totally unacceptable to force any regional community to be the dumping ground for Sydney waste if they did not agree.

The Sunshine Coast-based LifeFlight aeromedical crew yesterday winched a man from Mt Coolum to hospital in the first of back-to-back missions. The LifeFlight helicopter was tasked by Retrieval Services Queensland at 11.25am to a walking track on the mountain.

When Mathilde Enevoldsen left Denmark to work for LifeFlight, it was minus 15 degrees and snowing. Now, she’s landed smack bang in the middle of a sweltering Australian summer, ready to help North Queensland communities as one of LifeFlight’s newest critical care doctors.

Camel milk is emerging as a nutrient-rich alternative dairy product in Australia, attracting growing interest from nutrition researchers and consumers seeking options for digestive sensitivities ... “Many of our customers turn to camel milk because they struggle with food allergies or intolerances. Gut and digestive issues are increasingly common, and camel milk’s natural composition means it is often reported to be gentler and easier to tolerate than traditional dairy.”

Regional local government councils including Narrandera came together again for the eighth annual Cootamundra Mayoral Summit hosted by the Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke this week. Ms Cooke said it was clear that health, water security and safer roads remained top priorities right across the electorate

A picturesque barbie boat ride almost turned to tragedy for mother of 3, Leitchville dairy farmer Stephanie Dehne ... Their plan was to boat upstream from Murrabit and enjoy lunch at the Royal Hotel Barham before a lazy afternoon return journey, but things quickly escalated into a life-or-death race against the clock.

The Alliance is pleased to kick off 2026 by announcing that abstract submissions are now open for the 18th National Rural Health Conference, to be held 14–16 September 2026 in Adelaide (Tarntanya). 

Michelle Daw. Environment Minister Lucy Hood has called a hastily arranged community forum at Corny Point this week, following growing criticism of the state government's handling of the harmful algal bloom affecting southern Yorke Peninsula ... Public frustration escalated over the weekend following reported comments by Premier Peter Malinauskas, who stated the algal bloom was "non-existent in most of the state" — remarks that have drawn strong backlash from affected coastal communities.

As MacKillop heads toward the March 2026 state election, voters are being challenged to weigh experience, independence, and influence. Labor candidate Mark Braes makes his case in an exclusive Q&A with The [Naracoorte] News, pitching decades in law, local government, and mayoral leadership—alongside the leverage of being part of a governing SA Labor Party.

Allan Japp's story is one of extraordinary dedication, quiet leadership and lifelong service to the people of Hay. For nearly 70 years, Allan has been a cornerstone of our town through his work in pharmacy, emergency services, sport and a wide range of community organisations.

Darling Downs Health has welcomed a record 61 medical interns this year, marking the largest intake since the program began ... Included in this diverse group is Dr Reuben Burrough, whose journey to medicine began in the paddocks of western New South Wales.

In the dusty yards of a local feedlot, on a horse twice her size, Mikaela Hurst effortlessly moves cattle under the unrelenting Australian summer sun. But beneath the wide-brimmed hat and even wider smile lies a specialised skill set that is rare.

The Sunshine Coast-based LifeFlight aeromedical crew ... airlifted a man to hospital after a motorcycle crash in the Sunshine Coast hinterland. The LifeFlight helicopter was tasked by Retrieval Services Queensland at 12.15pm to a State Forest near Kenilworth and landed on a dirt road close to the scene.

WaterNSW has issued a Red Alert warning for high levels of potentially toxic blue-green algae at Toonumbar Dam, about 30 km west of Kyogle. The Red Alert warning applies only to untreated water at the dam.

As this final newsletter of the year demonstrates, rural health does not pause for the festive season. While many Australians take a well-earned break, rural, regional and remote communities continue to carry extraordinary responsibility—for food production, harvest, emergency response, service delivery and the steady functioning of our economy and society.