Postcode discrimination
Country towns like Naracoorte are facing "postcode discrimination" when it comes to accessing mental health services and resources. That’s the view of SA Shadow Minister for Regional Health Services, Penny Pratt, who has attacked the State government for turning a blind eye to the Limestone Coast region and failing to understand the plight of families in need of mental health services.
Mason family helps make a difference for T1D
What does fifty million dollars’ worth of hope feel like? Just ask Allora’s Benjamin and James Mason who, along with parents, Hayley and Mark, recently joined a national delegate of one hundred brave Type 1 Diabetes advocates as part of JDRF’s "Kids in the House – KITH" program, to address members of parliament in Canberra.
CSIRO, Oxitec to tackle disease-spreading mosquitoes threatening mainland Australia
A new venture, Oxitec Australia, is taking on two of the deadliest virus-carrying mosquitos in the Pacific region – Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus – to fight the spread of diseases like dengue, Zika, and yellow fever, which claims hundreds of thousands of lives globally each year. Launched today, Oxitec Australia is a collaboration between CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, and UK-based Oxitec Ltd, the leading developer of biological solutions to control pests.
Hiccups for Coles over milk from cows that burp less
Bovaer is getting a lot of attention – and not the good kind. Bovaer is a feed additive for cattle – including some used to supply milk and beef sold at Coles supermarkets. Why? Because Bovaer reduces cattle methane emissions (in burps) significantly. Bovaer is made using silicon dioxide, propylene glycol and the organic compound 3-nitroxypropanol (known as 3-NOP).
Farewell to the man with the magic hands
Together with family members, hundreds of friends and admirers packed the Donald Anglican Church and surrounds ... for the service celebrating the remarkable life of legendary sports therapist, the late Pat Allen. The service was conducted by the Rev. Judi Bird, who spoke feelingly of the difference made by Pat to the lives of people from near and far.
Families praise West Wimmera early years services
A West Wimmera Shire Council survey on maternal and child health and support playgroup services has highlighted the overwhelmingly positive experiences from families in the community. The survey, which gathered responses from parents and caregivers from across the shire, showed strong satisfaction with the support and care currently provided.
Drug and alcohol-related deaths in Western NSW tackled by new group of specialists
The Rural Applied Drug and Alcohol Research group (RADAR) will tackle the prevalence of drug and alcohol abuse in Western NSW, which is higher than most other parts of NSW ... Core priorities of RADAR include addressing the specific, geographical issues those afflicted by substance misuse in western NSW often experience.
One butcher shop + six moustaches = $5000
The butchers at Metcalf Quality Meats in Evans Head, Tom Karry, Jacob Lane, Mark Simeoni, Riley Stothard, Nathan Scully and Wade Goldthorpe, grew moustaches to raise money for men’s mental health. Wade said the young fellas didn’t stand a chance in the moustache-growing race.
2025 Australian of the Year for Queensland
Allora born and bred Geoffrey Smith, was named Queensland Australian of the Year at the recent awards ceremony held in Brisbane. Proud parents Debbie and Alan Smith said Geoffrey was born in 1989 and went to Allora Kindergarten, Allora Pre-School and Allora P-10 School until Year 7 when he moved to Toowoomba Grammar.
MS Australia launches major EBV research platform to combat MS
MS Australia is bringing together the nation's top researchers to unlock the complex link between Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and multiple sclerosis (MS); with the potential to revolutionise how we treat, prevent, and ultimately cure MS. The EBV in MS National Collaborative Platform, launched today at MS Australia's inaugural Frontiers in MS Research Symposium at the University of Sydney, aims to unify and strengthen Australian research efforts into EBV and MS.
“These were not vaccines; these were horrible gene therapies”
Emeritus Professor of Oncology at St Georges, University of London and Principal of The Institute for Cancer Vaccines and Immunotherapy (ICVI) Professor Angus Dalgleish didn’t mince his words this week in response to Australia’s response to Covid. “Why on earth did they do this?” said Professor Dalgleish in an interview on Sky this week.
Harry strides for a cause
Wilson McShane. Six-year-old Harry Rendell, from Moonta, is following in the footsteps of his running idols. Supported by his parents Kara and Nick, he is training for a five-kilometre event in Melbourne ... Throughout November, he and his running team RUNNEZ have been participating in Stride 4 Stroke, a fundraiser for the Stroke Foundation.
Move it or lose it
Rachel Hagan. Minlaton Family Centre is moving towards becoming the wellbeing hub of the lower Yorke Peninsula. However, these dreams may fall short if the community does not start using the new health services already available ... the family centre hosts GP Gaurang Prajapati and dietitian Bonnie Sanderson, who are currently not being utilised to their full capacity.
Specific ‘forever chemical’ found at unexpected levels in firefighting foam: UNSW Sydney
A new study has revealed there may be a significant underestimation of a specific type of PFAS ‘forever chemical’ in the environment. Researchers from UNSW Sydney found that branched perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) was more prevalent than expected in firefighting foam.
$4m increase queried
Health Minister Chris Picton has defended the increase in budget allocation of $4million to the Limestone Coast Local Health Network (LCLHN) last financial year ... “The fee-for-service expenditure for the Limestone Coast Local Health Network last financial year was $28,164,000, an increase of $4million from 2023. Can the minister explain exactly what fee-for-service relates to and whether that is the amount spent on employing locum doctors?” asked Independent Member for MacKillop Nick McBride.
Seven hundred thousand
Two salaried doctors in the region, employed by the Limestone Coast Local Health Network, are paid yearly salaries of around $700,000 each. But why, Independent Member for MacKillop Nick McBride questioned Health Minister Chris Picton in the House of Assembly last month. Mr McBride quizzed the minister about what these roles were that were paying that amount and where they were based.
History of YoungCare in Queensland
Local identity Daphne Whatley attended a YoungCare function in Brisbane at the weekend, where she was guest speaker. Daphne has been involved in YoungCare since it started in Queensland 20 years ago. During that time Allora has been raising money for YoungCare.
One step closer
47 people helped the Cohuna Lions Club add to the national tally of kilometres for Lap the Map on Saturday when they participated in Cohuna parkrun ... Funds raised go to the Lions Australia Medical Alert Dog Program that provides Diabetic Alert Dogs to people with type 1 diabetes, free of charge.
End of an era at Japps
It was the end of an era ... when Hay’s pharmacist of close to 70 years finally passed on the baton. "The time has come," Allan Japp told The Riverine Grazier after signing over his share of Japp’s Pharmacy to Mina Malek who had been working with him for the past two-and-a-half years.
Health inquiry goes ahead
Michelle Daw. Yorke Peninsula residents are being urged to contribute to a long-awaited inquiry into health services in the region launched on November 14. The inquiry was triggered by a petition signed by nearly 11,000 people. It was led by Member for Narungga Fraser Ellis, who lodged it with State Parliament in November 2023.
ASSEA urges Australians to beware of ageing and deteriorating asbestos
The Asbestos and Silica Safety and Eradication Agency (ASSEA) is calling on Australians to understand the growing dangers of ageing and deteriorating asbestos, particularly as the summer season approaches, and home renovation projects kick off. Despite a complete asbestos ban more than 20 years ago, an estimated one in three homes across Australia still contain asbestos.
Skilled GPs delivering babies at Naracoorte
A highly skilled team of four specialist rural doctors with qualifications and experience in obstetrics are working together, continuing to deliver babies at the Naracoorte Hospital. They include Dr Kim Trueman, Dr Clare Garner, Dr David Mills and Dr Ron Wallingford … news for obstetrics was released in statements by … (LCLHN) as well as the Naracoorte General Practice and Kincraig Medical Clinic.
