Dedicated to the Flying Doctors
Hugh Schuitemaker. A well-known Riverlander who has overseen the expansion of the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) in the region is set to retire from his senior role. Current RFDS Riverland Support Group president Alan Eckermann will retire from the position at the end of this month.
Steve Sun can see after doctors diagnose loss of sight in brain tumour op
When Steve Sun set off from Casino in his Sunseeker 4WD in October 2021, his mission was to see as much of Australia before he lost his sight. Steve had a brain tumour and needed an operation. Doctors told him the op would save his life but it would leave him blind.
Baby it’s cold outside, and inside
The recent frosty mornings in our area might inspire us to cosy up inside by a fire or with a loved one, but university studies have found that Australians have colder houses than people in similar climates around the world. Experts from RMIT commented last week about the phenomenon in which Australians have lower standards for warmth in their homes, leading to health risks.
Confirmed – GBH redevelopment to go ahead
Almost $15 million will be allocated towards the $263.8 million Grafton Base Hospital (GBH) redevelopment over the next 12 months after NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey handed down the NSW State Budget for 2024-25 last week. Member for Clarence Richie Williamson said the Budget papers "lock in the redevelopment with $14.7 million in the coming financial year, and $222.2 million over the next four years."
On critical list
Michelle Daw. The worst of winter ills is yet to come, along with further pain in our hospitals as staff struggle to cope. That’s the warning from groups representing doctors and nurses, as the Code Yellow crisis in public hospitals drags on.
Warning! Crackdown on drugs
Following a spike in drug-related crime, local police are cracking down on drugs in the Buloke region, targeting suppliers and traffickers in particular, in an effort to reduce the negative impact drugs make on the wider community. Charlton’s Senior Constable Will Ringin relocated to the area around a year ago ... brings with him a fighting passion as well as particular skills and experience to deliver results in a rural setting.
Mandating Covid-19 therapeutics, questions continue
“At the pivotal point of Pfizer's vaccine approval in December 2020, there was a gross misrepresentation in what was presented publicly. Instead of the six deaths publicly disclosed, four placebo, two vaccinated, suggesting a benefit of vaccination, there were in fact 11 deaths, with more deaths in the vaccinated arm, six. We found undisclosed deaths, especially in the vaccinated arm of this clinical trial, in contravention to legal and ethical obligations of trial sponsors": Dr Jeyanthi Kunadhasan.
Coen local named 2024 RFDS Queensland hero
A dedicated healthcare advocate working to help people die with dignity has been named the 2024 Royal Flying Doctor Service (Queensland Section) Queensland Hero ... Jodi Hamilton, the Cairns region Local Hero, is the overall Queensland Hero for 2024 for her exceptional work in enhancing palliative care services.
Horses, history power our top senior
Serena Kirby. This year’s senior citizen of the year, Louise Swan, has put her love of horses to good use since retiring and moving to Denmark nearly a decade ago. Louise said horses had been her passion since she was five years old and when she discovered there was a local HorsePower centre, she wasted no time in volunteering to help.
Oldest woman in Australia and her country roots
Australia’s oldest woman, Lorna Henstridge, was born a Paterson and grew up on a Willamulka farm with her parents and two siblings ... Turning 110 last Thursday, June 6,Ms Henstridge was born in 1914 in Adelaide and lived on Yorke Peninsula until 1921.
Budget blues – YP on the outer
Michelle Daw. Yorke Peninsula again missed out on major spending in the 2024-25 State Budget, which was handed down last Thursday, June 6. There was little in the way of new funding specifically for the region ... "Despite throwing an extra $7.1b at the health system, critical areas in our regions remain neglected — such as the need for workforce incentives to attract and retain doctors and nurses in regional areas, investment in mental health and psychosocial services and regionally based radiotherapy services": Opposition regional health spokesperson Penny Pratt.
60 new GPs
The government has announced a new plan that will see the addition of 60 new general practitioners in regional South Australia, including the Limestone Coast. The new Single Employer Model (SEM) will support up to 60 additional GP and rural generalist registrars training in the community at any one time – potentially quadrupling the state’s existing cohort as the program scales up over time.
Elective surgery chopped
Stakeholders: What’s going on with health services? Booked for an elective surgery at a public hospital, you might have to look for other options. Elective surgery has been cancelled at all hospitals across the state, including the Naracoorte Hospital. Reason, the health system is heaving under an illness load, with a large number of Covid and flu cases in the community resulting in staff shortages...
Heartfelt addition to hotel’s community meat tray raffle night
The newly re-opened Bidgee Hotel at Narrandera is proud to host a special charity event ... A beautiful artwork print by the talented Lesley Jane and a very special one-of-a-kind art piece by Stewart James, the artist behind Carlton's Indigenous guernsey will be raffled.
Heated pool gets the nod
It was D-Day for Hay’s proposed hydrotherapy pool last Tuesday, the culmination of a 30-year effort by the Hay community. The pendulum was swinging between the need for a heated pool and Council’s deliberation on replacing the ageing John Houston Memorial Swimming Pool.
Susan Close keeps blue-green algae sludge secret despite health warning for River Murray: Centofanti, Whetstone
Blue-green algae sludge – which poses health risks to humans and livestock – has begun trickling down the River Murray from New South Wales after Susan Close agreed to accept the concerning bacteria in South Australia without warning communities ... the NSW Government recognising “not only is the foul smell and colour of the water extremely distressing for the local community, blue-green algae can also pose potential health risks to humans and livestock”.
For rural patients and doctors – “blatantly unfair” deal on urgent care
The Rural Doctors Association of Victoria (RDAV) has called for a better deal for Victoria’s rural patients and rural doctors when it comes to how emergency care is funded in Victoria’s Urgent Care Centres (UCCs), saying the current system is "blatantly unfair" to both patients and doctors.
Save our SOS
Joanna Tucker. Suicide awareness organisation SOS Yorkes is on the brink of collapse unless more volunteers can be found immediately ... Chair Ann Clothier said, if SOS Yorkes — which was founded in 2015 and stands for Stamp Out Suicide — cannot find a new secretary and treasurer in the next few weeks, the service will cease at the end of this month.
Spreading illness down generations
Ted Sterle and Don Fuller. The explosion of type two diabetes, obesity, kidney disease and renal failure among remote and closed NT Aboriginal communities – at least 10 times the incidence among non-Aboriginal people – can be tracked to poor lifestyle choices not only within individuals: Such acquired changes can be passed on to the offspring down generations.
‘Forest of the Fallen’ visits Kerang
600 bamboo stakes stood amongst the crowd at the Kerang Community Market on Saturday. Each stake held the story of an Australian who had an adverse reaction to the mandated Covid-19 therapeutic.
A reprieve for regional patients: Doctor tax backflip
Regional Victorians can breathe easy after five years of advocacy and the Victorian Liberal-National Opposition’s criticisms embarrassed the State Government into pausing its $10 million doctor tax, the Shadow Assistant Minister for Regional Health, Dr Anne Webster, said at the weekend.
Local resident finds fulfillment in volunteering at Maldon Hospital
Dale Tudor, a dedicated volunteer at the Maldon campus of Dhelkaya Health, shares his story to inspire others to join in giving back to the community. "After spending time visiting my dad here, I got to know the staff, and eventually, I decided to become a volunteer" ... Dale finds joy in connecting with both residents and staff.
