Council and community discuss hall problems
More than 70 community members gathered at a meeting in Charlton this week to discuss the current temporary closure of the Charlton Shire Hall due to the potential friable asbestos identified in the decorative brickwork wall cavities in June ... Laboratory analysis confirmed the presence of Amosite asbestos within cavities ...
Asbestos scare hits wind energy sector
The safety of workers and the integrity of renewable energy projects across the state has been called into question last week, after a nationwide audit was launched following the discovery of asbestos in wind turbine components. The finding points to a lapse in compliance with Australian import laws, and has raised concerns the future of planned energy project development in the Hay and Balranald region.
Horsham Rural City Council responds to Japanese Encephalitis Virus detection
The Department of Health has confirmed the first detection of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) in mosquitoes for the 2025–26 season. The virus was found in a mosquito trap in the Horsham Rural City Council area, as part of Victoria's Arbovirus Disease Control Program.
E-petition launched to boost intensive care paramedics
With only two intensive care paramedics (ICPs) working on shift to cover the entire Clarence Valley, staff at Grafton Ambulance Station were joined by Member for Clarence Richie Williamson last week to officially launch an e-Petition, calling on the NSW Government to prioritise increasing staffing across the region.
Health inquiry response tabled
Caitlin Menadue. The long-awaited response to the Yorke Peninsula health services inquiry has landed, with SA Health tabling its position in state parliament on November 26. SA Health has accepted all 16 recommendations from the Economic and Finance Committee's Inquiry into the Delivery of Health Services on the Yorke Peninsula.
Regional patients left behind by Metro Tunnel connections: Cleeland
The Nationals Member for Euroa, Annabelle Cleeland MP, has criticised the Allan Labor Government for designing the Metro Tunnel around Melbourne priorities while leaving regional Victorians to battle difficult, impractical connections.
“Every bite counts” – GLP-1 weight loss medicines and the future of food: Rabobank
The surge in usage of ‘GLP-1’-style weight loss medications is seeing a "ripple effect" begin to unfold, impacting eating patterns in a number of countries around the world, Rabobank says in recently-released research.
Rural Aid’s 2024/25 Impact Report reveals growing need and enduring commitment to rural Australia
Rural Aid has released its 2024/25 Impact Report, revealing a year where practical assistance, mental health and wellbeing and community-led recovery helped thousands of farming families withstand worsening pressures across rural Australia.
LifeFlight records increase in animal-related incidents
LifeFlight has recorded an increase in animal-related rescues with 155 people airlifted this year across Queensland. The figures, released on the eve of National Agriculture Day ... have more than doubled in the past two years with a 120 per cent increase from 2023.
Rural patients paying the price of government inaction: AMA (NSW)
AMA (NSW) supports the Rural Health Action Plan put forward by Dr Joe McGirr MP today and is calling on the NSW Government to take immediate action. The April to June 2025 Bureau of Health Information report showed only 65.1 per cent of elective surgeries at Wagga Wagga Base Hospital were completed on time, a fall of 15.8 percentage points from the previous year.
Stark reminder of deadly flying fox virus
Community members are being reminded about the danger of bats after a boy was scratched by a flying fox near Crows Nest while attempting to rescue it. William, aged 14, was scratched by the flying fox while attempting to free it from a barbed wire fence on the family's property near Crows Nest, on 10 October.
Responders commended for their commitment to community
Two Corryong locals were celebrated at the recent Ambulance Victoria (AV) Hume Staff Recognition Awards, taking home official recognition for their years of outstanding service providing pre-hospital health care and education to the community.
Open letter to the Prime Minister
Michael Balderstone, Legalise Cannabis Party President. Firstly, congratulations Albo and thank you for Labor preferences on the Senate tickets ... Fair to say we were disappointed by our result, even though we got more than half a million first preference votes. The Legalise Cannabis Party grew out of the Nimbin HEMP Embassy, which in truth grew out of the Nimbin community.
Murray Local Health District: To split or not to split? Community needs to decide
Independent Member for Murray, Helen Dalton, has called on everyone in her electorate to write to NSW Parliament in support of creating a new local health district for the region, called the Western Riverina Local Health District ... "Parliament is calling for submissions about this new health district, and I want thousands of submissions to be sent in."
Legacy in bloom: Dahlenburg Estate plants the seeds for Iona’s new gardens
West Wimmera Health Service is proud to announce the completion of a major redevelopment project at Iona Gardens, bringing new life, colour, and purpose to the facility's outdoor spaces. What was once a plain and impractical environment has been reimagined into a welcoming, accessible, and engaging area designed to enhance the wellbeing and quality of life for all residents.
Study reveals farmer mental health burden amidst land grab rush: VFF
A new Federation University study has revealed farmers and communities are buckling under the mental health strain posed by energy and mining developments in the Wimmera and Southern Mallee regions ... “Tragically an Australian farmer dies by suicide every 10 days. That’s more than twice the rate of other working Australians.”
2025-26 interim Budget supports services, economy and the Tasmanian community: Rockliff, Abetz
The Tasmanian Government’s significant investment in health, education, housing, and law and order has been outlined in today’s 2025-26 interim Budget. This is a fiscally responsible budget that will continue to deliver the services that Tasmanians expect and deserve.
Hospital strike out
Madison Eastmond. Riverland medical staff will join hundreds of nurses as they reject the State Government's most recent pay offer, which they claim still "leaves SA nurses and midwifes as the lowest paid in Australia".
The wrong ratio headcount issue
Madison Eastmond. Riverland medical staff are claiming new ratio laws that have been recently passed by the State Government to improve medical care and safety are failing to alleviate the "high pressure working conditions" of rural and regional healthcare. Alongside an offer of a 13 per cent pay rise over four years, with bonus payments totalling $4500 … the State Government also announced the passing of new patient ratio laws, which are said to ensure "safer nursing".
Rallying for respect
Michelle Daw. Wallaroo nurses, midwives and their supporters were among hundreds who rallied across South Australia last week in support of a union pay claim. The rallies, held on Wednesday, October 30, were organised by the South Australian branch of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation as part of its RESPECT campaign.
The man who ran 1,132km on a fractured hip: Mitch McKinney’s extraordinary marathon for angel kids
Mitch McKinney isn't a professional runner ... by his own admission, he's not particularly a runner at all. Yet this 38-y/o ordinary Australian achieved something extraordinary; running 1,132 km from the red dust of Broken Hill to the sea breeze of Newcastle, completing a marathon every single day for 29 days straight.
When a crazy idea becomes a reality and a ‘38 Dodge ambulance returns to town
Never has a ‘38 Dodge had such applause on its arrival. When Mark and Sue Butler pulled into town with the 1938 Dodge Kyogle ambulance on the back of their tilt tray truck, everyone wanted to see it ... The Kyogle ambulance has been returned for three months to be part of the Kyogle Memorial Hospital centenary celebrations on November 15.
