2025-26 interim Budget supports services, economy and the Tasmanian community: Rockliff, Abetz
The Tasmanian Government’s significant investment in health, education, housing, and law and order has been outlined in today’s 2025-26 interim Budget. This is a fiscally responsible budget that will continue to deliver the services that Tasmanians expect and deserve.
Hospital strike out
Madison Eastmond. Riverland medical staff will join hundreds of nurses as they reject the State Government's most recent pay offer, which they claim still "leaves SA nurses and midwifes as the lowest paid in Australia".
The wrong ratio headcount issue
Madison Eastmond. Riverland medical staff are claiming new ratio laws that have been recently passed by the State Government to improve medical care and safety are failing to alleviate the "high pressure working conditions" of rural and regional healthcare. Alongside an offer of a 13 per cent pay rise over four years, with bonus payments totalling $4500 … the State Government also announced the passing of new patient ratio laws, which are said to ensure "safer nursing".
Rallying for respect
Michelle Daw. Wallaroo nurses, midwives and their supporters were among hundreds who rallied across South Australia last week in support of a union pay claim. The rallies, held on Wednesday, October 30, were organised by the South Australian branch of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation as part of its RESPECT campaign.
The man who ran 1,132km on a fractured hip: Mitch McKinney’s extraordinary marathon for angel kids
Mitch McKinney isn't a professional runner ... by his own admission, he's not particularly a runner at all. Yet this 38-y/o ordinary Australian achieved something extraordinary; running 1,132 km from the red dust of Broken Hill to the sea breeze of Newcastle, completing a marathon every single day for 29 days straight.
When a crazy idea becomes a reality and a ‘38 Dodge ambulance returns to town
Never has a ‘38 Dodge had such applause on its arrival. When Mark and Sue Butler pulled into town with the 1938 Dodge Kyogle ambulance on the back of their tilt tray truck, everyone wanted to see it ... The Kyogle ambulance has been returned for three months to be part of the Kyogle Memorial Hospital centenary celebrations on November 15.
Puppies in purple for Jacaranda Festival
This year, for the first time, Assistance Dogs Australia pups will be featuring in the Grafton Jacaranda Festival Parade on Saturday 1 November, resplendent in purple crowns and accompanied by the ADA team, their community carers and Serco staff.
Answers wanted on Jane’s death
A Riverland man is searching for answers after his wife died on the Renmark airport tarmac, while waiting hours for a critical air ambulance last month. After suffering a heart attack on the evening of September 20, on the family's Renmark fruit block, 76-year-old Jane Logos was taken to the Berri-based Riverland General Hospital and waited until nearly 4am for an attempt to transfer her to Flinders Medical Centre (FMC), before tragically passing on the tarmac.
Kyneton the Rational(E) choice for skincare powerhouse: Symes
The Allan Labor Government is supporting an Australian luxury skincare brand working to in-house 100 per cent of its manufacturing by the end of the year, after relocating to Kyneton ... RATIONALE, a Victorian-owned skincare product manufacturer, invested $7.8 million to relocate its headquarters from Melbourne to Kyneton in 2022...
Radiotherapy group tours new cancer care centre
A new Cancer Care Centre under construction at Mount Gambier Hospital has been inspected by the region’s radiotherapy working group ... Although still many weeks from completion, and it lacked radiotherapy, Naracoorte's Lachlan Haynes was pleased that improved cancer care would soon be available for South Easterners.
Algae doesn’t swim between the flags: Tarzia, Basham
Businesses and families financially impacted by the harmful algal bloom have been left wanting by the State Government’s most recent announcement on how it plans to keep our beaches open during summer ... “While our lifesavers do an outstanding job keeping our beaches safe, algae doesn’t swim between the flags,” Mr Tarzia said.
Grow Local, Eat Local serves up a winner!
On Saturday, the health promotion team at West Wimmera Health Service hosted the fourth Grow Local, Eat Local cooking competition. Three home cooks from across the Wimmera—Warracknabeal, Horsham and Natimuk—each prepared a plant-based dish for the crowd, with television cook Tim Bone judging the entries and choosing the winner.
$250,000 health plan endorsed
The South East is set for its most ambitious health overhaul in a generation, with the Limestone Coast Local Health Network endorsing a 10-year, $250 million clinical services plan designed to transform care across the region. The 65-page Draft Clinical Services Plan 2025 2035 charts a course for hospitals and community health across eight locations ...
LifeFlight airlifts boy after ATV crash
The Roma-based LifeFlight Surat Gas Aeromedical Service (SGAS) aeromedical crew yesterday airlifted a boy after an ATV crash in the Western Downs region. The LifeFlight helicopter was tasked by Retrieval Services Queensland at 3.40pm to a private property and landed near the scene.
Industrial renewables laid bare
The Pyramid Hill was a hive of activity on Sunday as community members from Loddon and Gannawarra Shires gathered to discuss industrial renewable developments openly. The meeting hosted by Loddon Valley Renewables Awareness Group provided an open community forum, something that is avoided at all costs for transmission line and renewable developments, as one speaker framed it, "divide and conquer" is the standard modus operandi.
Turning a cup of tea into a life changing conversation: BCNA
Every day in Australia, 58 people are diagnosed with breast cancer ... conversations about breast cancer are often avoided, leaving many women to face their fears in silence. A new national campaign from tea brand Tetley in support of Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA) aims to change that, by transforming something as simple as a chat over a cup of tea into what could be a life changing conversation.
Haydays’ plight goes to Federal Health Minister
"I will be writing personally to the Federal Health Minister." That was the promise made by Member for Farrer and leader of the Liberal Party, Sussan Ley when she visited Haydays last week. Ms Ley toured the aged care facility with chair Lisa Bowen and staff members Martyn Quinn and Julie Weymouth, to see for herself the upgrades needed for Haydays to retain its accreditation.
Dialysis in draft: State plan flags mid-term service priority for Naracoorte
The long-awaited prospect of renal dialysis services at Naracoorte Hospital has been formally recognised in the state government’s Draft Clinical Services Plan for the Limestone Coast ... Mr McBride emphasised that renal dialysis for Naracoorte had been a long-standing request from constituents who faced the burden of travelling to Mount Gambier or Adelaide for treatment.
Local MP slams health report’s ‘weasel words”
Michelle Daw. After months of anticipation, the long-awaited Yorke Peninsula health services inquiry report has been released. Its 16 recommendations include upgrading services at Wallaroo Hospital and developing emergency departments at Yorketown and Maitland Hospitals ... Narungga MP Fraser Ellis said he was disappointed by the "underwhelming" language used in the report.
A new medical specialty – Rural Generalists formally recognised: RACGP
Rural Generalists (RG) will now be formally recognised as a specialist medical field within general practice in the Australian healthcare system following an announcement by the Minister for Health and Ageing, Mark Butler MP ... “This is a positive step forward in making the rural generalism career pathway more visible and ensuring that RGs are always appropriately remunerated for the vital work they do in rural and remote communities across Australia,” RACGP President Dr Michael Wright said.
From the mayor’s hospital bed; I get front row seats to the horror show in my body
Kyogle mayor Danielle Mulholland is undergoing radiation and chemo treatment in John Flynn Hospital ... Writing about her treatment helps, she said. Her wit and blunt truth shines through in her writing ... "Not the glamorous cavalry with trumpets and banners — my cavalry comes armed with clean undies, compression socks, and the kind of determination only love or madness explains."
Paramedic Peter clocks off
Grafton based intensive care paramedic Peter Maxwell clocked off from his last shift on Sunday after a rewarding 44-year long career with NSW Ambulance which also saw him meet his wife. But Mr Maxwell said he never had a burning ambition to join NSW Ambulance, his career came about by circumstance.
