“Chuffed and tickled pink”
Emma Pritchard. A proud Graftonian, and a much-loved country music star with a heart as big as her acoustic guitar, Brooke McClymont has been officially announced as the newest Patron of the Grafton Branch of the United Hospital Auxiliary (GBUHA).
SA riders set for National Para-dressage competition
As part of a partnership with Equine Pathways Australia, Racing SA is supporting three South Australian riders competing at the Australian National Para-dressage competition at Boneo Park in Victoria ... the event is a qualifier for the World Equestrian Games to be held in Denmark later in 2022.
Local Health Advisory Committee
Joan de Bondt. The Barham Local Health Advisory Committee (LHAC) is holding a free two-day course, ‘Mental Health First Aid’ on May 5 and 6 ... The members of the Barham committee meet once a month to identify local service needs, to discuss ways to improve access to services, and to assist in planning and development. They provide valuable input into planning health services and in informing the local community of the availability of services. They encourage members of the public to raise their concerns and to offer suggestions about programs that they would like to see implemented.
EPA promises to be transparent about post flood oil sludge investigations
The Environment Protection Authority has done assessments of those Broadwater homes with hydrocarbon contamination. Hydrocarbon includes oil, diesel and other fuels. A specialist consultant is doing soil assessments and sampling from the yards of affected properties. The results of this testing will be provided to residents and used to decide remedial strategies.
First spice orders replace imported kalonji
The burgeoning northern Australian spice industry has moved from concept to impact with the first orders secured to replace 100 tonnes of imported kalonji seed ... “We’re currently contracting farmers in Queensland to supply seed to meet this first order, and we’re looking for more farmers to work with us as we build this industry across northern Australia to tap into the booming demand for spices around the world”: Lewis Hunter, AgriVentis Technologies.
Blokes on postie bikes delivering prostate cancer awareness
Chair of the not-for-profit foundation Robert Glover told the Times, “We’ve raised over 1.5 million dollars since the beginning, and every dollar we raise goes to the cause. We pay for our own petrol, accommodation and food. The funds raised have provided transperineal biopsy machines and specialist care for rural hospitals around Australia, and today’s ride will assist in providing two more machines, one for a hospital in Shepparton and another for Hobart.”
More cases of Japanese encephalitis in SA piggeries
There have been two more detections of Japanese encephalitis (JE) in South Australian commercial piggeries. This brings the total number of cases in South Australia to six. The latest detections are in the local government areas of Clare and Gilbert Valleys and Goyder. This is in addition to existing detections in the following local government areas: Loxton Waikerie, Murray Bridge and Coorong.
New bat influx in Casino. Plus feedback wanted on Kyogle flying fox plan
A second influx of little red flying foxes has arrived in McAuliffe Park in Casino. Little reds are highly nomadic and will move on again before too long but with a lot of habitat destroyed by recent floodwater, the flying foxes may make their way into residents’ yards.
CAPS is back on track
Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch believes he will be able to soon cut the ribbon to open the CAPS animal welfare facility after discussions about the centre were fast-tracked. Last week’s Cape York Weekly was the most read edition since publishing began and the front page story about the future of the $2 million facility generated plenty of discussion in the community.
The conversation has started
Serena Kirby. Community member and South West MLC Dr Sally Talbot, who was instrumental in getting WA’s VAD law passed in State Parliament, spoke of the process at the Dying To Know forum convened by death doula Kit Bewley.
Lib backs Labor’s local health pledge
Gabrielle Duykers. A Liberal MP has expressed disappointment in his party for failing to match funding local health funding commitments made by the State Opposition, but says he will continue advocating on behalf of the community. In an interview with Flow News 24, Liberal Member for MacKillop Nick McBride said he supported the Labor Party’s $52 million health pledge for the Limestone Coast, which addressed the “outdated” infrastructure in parts of the region.
Active farmers games hailed as a success
Active Farmers founder and chief executive officer Ginny Stevens has hailed the Active Farmers Games at Coleambally as a success. The Games were created to raise awareness of the importance of physical and mental health in rural communities and to encourage more men to become more active. About 30 teams of three people competed in events which were designed to "mimic real-life challenges".
Farm safety statistics improve, but there is no room for complacency
Managing Director of AgriFutures Australia, John Harvey, says a safety mindset needs to remain front and centre across Australia’s agricultural sector.
Concussion and stress research puts jockey safety in the saddle
New research funded by AgriFutures Thoroughbred Horses Program and Racing Victoria aims to reduce workplace health risks by changing the way a jockey is monitored after a concussion to better inform their recovery and return to the track.
Do not place asbestos in rubbish piles: Lismore City Council
Please DO NOT handle or place any asbestos in rubbish piles for collection. Asbestos can only be removed by a licenced contractor. Hazardous wastes will eventually be included in the overall disaster clean-up work.
Japanese encephalitis detected in South Australian piggery
The mosquito-borne disease Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus has been detected in a commercial South Australian piggery. The disease has also been confirmed in piggeries in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland.
Japanese encephalitis detected in Eastern Australia
“JEV is a mosquito-borne viral disease that mostly occurs in pigs and horses, but can cause disease in people and rarely other animals. Animals and people become infected through the bite of infected mosquitoes. It cannot be caught through eating pork or pig products. The disease is not transmitted from person to person”: DAWE.
Govt spent $6.2m on locum GPs, not locals
Chris Oldfield. The SA Government’s Limestone Coast Local Health Network spent $6.2 million on locum doctors in 2020-21. And it has now hired an international locum agency to fill Naracoorte hospital’s emergency roster with medical officers, not locals ... Crippled by the escalating rural doctor crisis, for 27 days during 2020-21 the government left the Naracoorte Hospital without an on-call doctor or locum.
Trainees for Naracoorte and Millicent
Chris Oldfield. Naracoorte and Millicent have welcomed three new paramedic trainees to their dedicated SA Ambulance Service (SAAS) teams. Jasmine White has joined Naracoorte, while Ben Merchant and Amy-Lee Hay have teamed up with Millicent's SAAS.
Government agrees to Maldon Hospital amalgamation
The Victorian Government has approved the proposal put forward by the Maldon Hospital and Castlemaine Health boards to come together as one organisation ... The new health service will officially commence on 1 March 2022. The integration follows more than 42 years of strong collaboration and partnership between the two health services.
Domestic violence is no laughing matter
Geoff Helisma. ‘Not out’ septuagenarian Bob Walker came to comedy relatively late. “It saved my life. I was deeply depressed when I took it up – it’s changed how I think about myself and my outlook on life.” ... the Tucabia man is back with a stellar line-up of comedians at the Maclean Bowling Club – and all of the money from ticket sales will be used to potentially save lives.
New research aims to end the refrigeration of vaccines
Researchers at Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, have developed a technique that addresses the challenge of transporting temperature-dependent vaccines, which researchers hope may increase access in rural and remote communities in Australia and developing countries.
