Health

Local CFA volunteers were seen in trucks and in Corryong’s main street on Good Friday, raising money for The Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) Appeal and once again the Upper Murray community and holiday visitors dug deep for the cause.

Serena Kirby. Local winemaker Mike Garland was one of 50 cyclists who stopped in at Denmark Senior High School as part of WA’s annual Ride For Youth fundraiser. The cyclists joined 150 students from years eight and nine to talk about youth mental health.

Patricia Gill. Business developer and founder of Denmark-based Acare WA Marie Redman has proposed that the Shire of Denmark buildings be vacated to make way for seniors’ accommodation. Her suggestion, which would involve the Shire moving into the site of Supa IGA and a new big supermarket being built elsewhere, was met with applause at last Thursday’s meeting at the Riverside Club.

Calling all Australians to add new details on public toilets to the National Public Toilet Map. The much-loved Great Dunny Hunt is back and better than ever with the Continence Foundation of Australia calling all Australians to update the National Public Toilet Map website or app with new public toilet facility details they discover while out and about these school holidays.

Tennant Creek Women’s Refuge provides vital support for women escaping domestic violence; in many cases, these women and children have had to leave behind treasured possessions or much-loved pets. Recently the Refuge was gifted three baby rabbits, which were unfortunately orphaned when their mother died, and are looking to build a suitable enclosure ...

With the Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) Good Friday Appeal being held ... we have brought you the story of young Frank Skratulja, whose family has utilised the services of the hospital since June 2022 as well as the Mercy and Sunshine hospitals. Frank was born just before his identical twin brother Luka on May 25, 2022 at the Mercy Hospital.

Lucindale's Cheryl “Fitzy” Fitzgerald has only praise for the Lucindale nurse who three years ago saved her leg, and possibly her life ... So Ms Fitzgerald was shocked recently when she tried to make an appointment for a blood test at Lucindale.

Two new tools ... rural health experts from the UniSA have launched a new online resource to help farmers build and maintain a healthy relationship with their partner ... Rural based entrepreneur Mia Ryan hails from the Hunter Region and when she found trouble finding love using traditional dating apps, she developed her own, 'Howdy' ...

The Nationals WA have opposed Labor’s contentious Firearms Bill 2024 as the full impact on WA’s health system and individual licence holders was revealed during debate this week. Nationals Leader Shane Love MLA said a months-old briefing note from WA Police, which was only provided to Parliament this week, laid bare the scope of the new mandatory health assessments which WA’s 90,000 licensed firearms holders will soon be subject to.

East Wimmera Health Service and Flying Doctor Wellbeing have partnered to bring increased mental health support to Wycheproof. Starting in March, Pat Boyer, an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker, will be seeing clients face-to-face at East Wimmera Health Service, and delivering telehealth services across the catchment in partnership with Flying Doctor Wellbeing.

Norco, Australia’s largest and oldest dairy co-operative has announced the expansion of its ‘Farmer Army’ with new mental health recruit and dairy farmer veteran, Craig Waddell ... Michael Hampson, Norco Chief Executive Officer said the newly created position of Mental Health Support Officer will provide support exclusively to their farmer members who may need to talk to someone during challenging times or simply want to have a chat with another farmer.

Sheep and cropping farmer Jack Armstrong knows that in agriculture it pays to be proactive with safety, particularly when it comes to managing the risks of fatigue during peak periods ... WorkSafe data shows March and November are peak months for workplace fatalities in agriculture, corresponding with the busy sowing and harvest seasons.

The CEO of a Cootamundra aged care facility has welcomed a move by TAFE NSW Cootamundra to reintroduce a critical healthcare course amid a deepening skills shortage in the industry. For the first time in almost a decade, a Certificate III in Health Services Assistance will be offered at TAFE NSW Cootamundra ...

Deeper understanding of the anti-viral activity of tea tree oil opens doors to animal and human health applications. While tea tree oil is relatively well-known for its ability to treat a range of bacterial and fungal infections, new research has confirmed the homegrown essential oil could also be a valuable tool in the fight against respiratory viruses in livestock and humans.

Health bureaucracies that slashed rural nursing services for the sick and elderly have been put on notice by Member for MacKillop Nick McBride and Health Minister Chris Picton ... Without consultation, on January 22 the green rubber rings of two Local Health Networks squeezed out rural nursing services at Lucindale, Tintinara and Coonalpyn. People with cancer, MS, heart conditions and the elderly were told to drive round trips of 80kms or more for many nursing services. Most have no ability to drive. There is no public transport.

Cohuna’s visiting paramedics and Ambulance Community Officers (ACO) now have access to a gym to keep their bodies and minds healthy and active. Thanks to an initiative of ACO Travis Hore and the generosity of Bree from Evolve Fitness and Performance, our visiting ambos can keep as fit as they want when they want and still be ready at a moment’s notice to jump in the ambulance.

Sarah Herrmann. Several Wool Bay residents were frustrated by more than 30 momentary power outages ... which reportedly damaged appliances, adding to a steady stream of blackouts for the small township over multiple years ... "The biggest worry we’ve got is that we rely on CPAP machines at night time; medically, we’ve got to have it otherwise we could not wake up": Dave Norton, Wool Bay resident.

Member for Mildura, Jade Benham recently had the privilege to visit local schools to deliver Conor Pall’s debut book, “The Shadow that Follows” ... “It was one of the most meaningful days I’ve had in this role yet, it took a bit of planning, but I had the opportunity to spend the day with the brilliant Conor Pall."

Without consulting three rural communities, the SA Government has abruptly slashed nursing services to people with cancer, heart conditions and multiple sclerosis. Sick, infirm, and elderly people at Lucindale, Tintinara and Coonalpyn have been told to go to larger towns...