Aerodrome cleared for take-off
Patrick Tucker. After more than a decade of planning, lobbying and volunteer effort, Cohuna’s upgraded aerodrome will officially open on July 7. Driven by community volunteers and later overseen by the Cohuna Lions Club, the project has delivered a longer runway, new lighting, a terminal building and improved facilities for emergency services and visiting aircraft.
Darling Downs Health celebrates third international accolade for stroke services
Toowoomba Hospital’s Geriatric, Adult Rehabilitation and Stroke Service (GARSS) has celebrated a major achievement during a special reunion with a former stroke patient. GARSS was recently awarded its third World Stroke Organization (WSO) Angels Gold Award, after first achieving gold status in 2025.
Does paraquat cause Parkinson’s? Here’s what the evidence says about this common weed killer
Ian Musgrave. Paraquat is one of the world’s most widely used herbicides. It’s also highly toxic and some research points to a link with Parkinson’s disease ... Let’s see what the evidence says about paraquat’s toxicity and any link with Parkinson’s disease.
Fuel crisis forces Little Wings to cut flights for sick country kids
Soaring aviation fuel costs are forcing the children's charity flight service Little Wings to cut back, with consequences for some of the most vulnerable families in the far west. The organisation has had to reduce its number of flights, limiting access to vital developmental assessments and therapy for children in Broken Hill and other remote communities.
New licence supports SeaStock to scale up seaweed production: Jarvis
The Cook Labor Government has granted an aquaculture licence to Fremantle-based company SeaStock Pty Ltd for Western Australia's first commercial scale, land-based seaweed production facility, now under construction in Oakford. In recent years, algae aquaculture markets have developed significantly both locally and abroad for a type of red algae known as Asparagopsis.
Dogs to the rescue
Some of us, in the aftermath of the Covid crisis, were subjected to a deep dive into the music tastes of preteens, which included a song about the lockdown experience called 'I'm Good?' by the Hilltop Hoods ... It's a neat echo of the experience of many people whose canine family member joined them through an adoption program or from the pound, shelter or foster system.
Budget relief, big projects missing
The Limestone Coast is set to benefit from a range of cost-of-living, education, and health measures announced in the state government’s first budget since the March election - but member for MacKillop Jason Virgo says the region continues to miss out on the major investment it deserves.
Researchers explain the complexity of a plant enzyme at the atomic levels: Adelaide University
Adelaide University research into the complexity of plant exo-hydrolytic enzyme could have multiple benefits for medical, pharmaceutical, chemical and biotechnology industries. For more than a decade, Professor Maria Hrmova, School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, and a team of around 30 experts have been exploring the fundamental catalytic properties of plant exo-hydrolytic enzymes.
National Farmers Federation responds on paraquat
National Farmers Federation President, Hamish McIntyre, responds to questions from Australian Rural & Regional News asked in the light of the pending decision on paraquat by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority and recent media drawing a connection between paraquat and Parkinson’s disease.
The use of paraquat use in Australian agriculture – industry responses
In light of the pending decision on paraquat by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority and recent media drawing a connection between paraquat and Parkinson's disease, Australian Rural & Regional News has sought responses from industry bodies.
Testing Australia’s national disaster response and resilience capabilities: McBain
Key government and private sector organisations have come together to test how they respond to crisis scenarios, such as natural disasters, health and biosecurity incidents, supply chain shortages and disruptions to critical infrastructure.
Hospital row impacts on ambo wait times
Towong Council mayor, Cr Peter Tolsher, has cited ramping at the Albury hospital as a major factor in unacceptable ambulance wait times in the municipality. "It was disappointing - but certainly not surprising - to read the latest performance data released by Ambulance Victoria that shows Towong Shire remains at the bottom of the list for ambulance wait times in Victoria," Cr Tolsher said.
Kevin’s lasting legacy of care
Sebastian Calderon. Riverland families are set to farewell one of the region's longest-serving doctors, who is retiring after almost 38 years of caring and supporting local patients ... Dr Kevin Stanton said being a true country GP meant far more than clinic consultations, with doctors heavily involved in hospital care, emergency treatment and palliative support throughout the region.
Nhill community raises $4,319 for Cancer Council
The Nhill and district community has raised $4,319 for the Cancer Council through four days of fundraising organised by the Nhill Cancer Group. The group thanked everyone who supported the effort, which included a raffle, donations and the sale of Cancer Council merchandise at Nhill IGA over three days.
When journalism picks a side
One of the more interesting developments in modern journalism is that reporters increasingly seem to know the answer before they begin asking the questions ... The problem with Ros Thomas's recent Weekend Australian feature on paraquat and Parkinson's disease is that by the time you reach the end, you are left with the feeling that the destination was already known before the journey began.
Huge donation to Cancer Council
To raise $20,000 is a great measure of the heart and soul of the community who helped to support the Cancer Council Biggest Morning Tea hosted by The Higgins Family on Sunday 17 May.
Cutting edge research into motor neurone disease begins in Toowoomba
Researchers on the Darling Downs will begin work on cutting-edge techniques to improve the early detection and diagnosis of people with motor neurone disease. The deadly neurodegenerative disease affects nearly 3,000 Australians at any time, and techniques for the early detection of MND remain limited ... The transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) machine based in Toowoomba will be the first of its kind to be used for neurology research in Queensland.
Call for return to Christian values
Chantelle Thomas invoked the Bible, calling for a return to Christian values, and an end to abortions and "woke ideology" in her maiden speech as the Member for Narungga last week. Speaking in the House of Assembly on Wednesday, May 20, Mrs Thomas said Australia was built on strong Christian values of faith, family, respect, personal responsibility and helping neighbours.
Rough-sea trawler rescue the most challenging mission of pilot’s career: LifeFlight
The Bundaberg-based LifeFlight crew has completed a complex 13-hour offshore rescue after an injured fisherman broke his leg on a trawler about 110 nautical miles off the Rockhampton coast. The mission, tasked by Retrieval Services Queensland at 8.37am yesterday, required multiple refuels, almost 950 kilometres of travel and maritime winch operations in rough sea conditions.
Biggest diphtheria outbreak: Feds help NT hotspot
The biggest diphtheria outbreak since national record keeping began now (21 May) stands at 230 cases this year, affecting mainly Aboriginal people and believed to have caused the death one person. Around 60 per cent of the cases are in the Northern Territory, with further outbreaks in Western Australia, South Australia and Queensland.
Armidale medical student recognised for passion for rural healthcare
Seeing the healthcare barriers faced by rural families inspired Armidale medical student Fleur Steen to pursue medicine, and now a national grant is helping support that goal ... Now studying medicine at the University of New England in Armidale, Fleur said growing up in rural communities made her aware from an early age of the challenges many people face when trying to access healthcare.
The government’s health budget tinkers around the edges for rural communities: NRHA
“The real test with the Budget is whether the dollars announced reach rural people, First Nations communities and primary care in thin markets where healthcare access is hardest”" Susi Tegen, NRHA Chief Executive.
