Health

Long-term Birchip residents may remember, about 30 years ago, when two young Sri Lankan boys, Tharanga and Chathura Silva, enrolled at the school ... Chath has offered to give a classical guitar recital in Birchip, with all proceeds going to the Birchip P-12 School. Chath feels that it is only natural to give something back to the Birchip community and school which fuelled his passions as a young boy.

The June Donald History Society Inc. meeting was held at the Courthouse Museum ... The fourteen members were present and they were privileged to hear a fine presentation about the Donald Men’s Shed given by History Society and Men’s Shed, member, John Kumm ... The Men’s Shed movement originated in Australia during the late 1970s and the 1980s.

Emily Clark. On March 29 this year, the inaugural Hynam Woolshed Black Tie Ball was held at the iconic Hynam Woolshed, generously provided by the Schultz family, to raise funds for the local branch of the RFDS and to provide a special occasion to bring our community together.

What began with an Ice Bucket Challenge aimed at Coles Yamba Manager Jack Gibb has turned into a powerful community fundraising effort for Motor Neurone Disease (MND).

Sarah Herrmann. if it goes on for another month, I don't know that we'll still be in business." That's the sentiment of Stansbury oyster farmer Steve Bowley. Mr Bowley's farm, Pacific Estate Oysters, is one of several in the area closed due to the level of brevetoxin present.

Yorke Peninsula dementia support program, Memory Lane Cafe, has been saved by several small community groups which have generously donated funding to keep not one, but two cafe programs running for another year ... the group has grown from just 10 people to about 60 regular attendees who visit the travelling cafe each month.

The Allan Labor Government has cut critical health support for rural children in Western Victoria, axing the award-winning By Five Early Years Initiative in the latest state budget. Member for Western Victoria, Bev McArthur MP, condemned the decision as a direct attack on families already battling limited access to paediatric care.

With a renewed mandate in hand, the Albanese Government and its new Cabinet will have no barriers for further delay to implement the many health, disability and ageing sector reviews, reforms and recommendations it worked on with stakeholders in its first term of government ... The 7.3 million Australians living in rural and remote areas don’t need more consultations. They need a government that will implement the solutions that have already been developed, debated, and recommended.

Yorke Peninsula was left behind by the 2025-26 state budget, with no specific funding announcements for the region. The budget invested $1.9 billion in health, but none was specifically earmarked for Yorke Peninsula, despite the recent parliamentary inquiry into health services in the area.

Have you heard about Kaniva's newest wellness experience — a Japanese Head Spa? Chelsey Merrett has called Kaniva home for the past seven years. Two years ago, she launched Chelsey Merrett – Head Spa + Scalp Care...

In the wake of devastating floods, Rural Aid is rallying around Western Queensland’s farming communities with a powerful message: you are not alone. From 10–17 June, Rural Aid will be on the ground in Thargomindah, offering hands-on mental health support, meaningful connection, and a good dose of joy—reminding families that brighter days are ahead.

Seventeen workers at Southern Cross Care facilities in Broken Hill have lost their jobs following the organisation's acquisition by its Queensland counterpart, with the takeover finalised this month. Southern Cross Care Queensland confirmed the completion of its buyout of Southern Cross Care Broken Hill operations, with affected positions described as administrative…

The Nationals’ Member for Euroa, Annabelle Cleeland, will be at the Euroa Cattle Sale next Wednesday alongside mental health professionals to offer free and confidential support to any farmers doing it tough. Ms Cleeland said anybody is welcome to attend, regardless of whether they are participating in the sale or not – even if they just wanted to stop by for a cup of tea and a chat with friendly faces.

Rockhampton Regional Council, in partnership with the Queensland Government, has officially opened a new Changing Places facility at Southside Pool, ensuring more people in our community can enjoy a day out with dignity and ease ... provides essential amenities for people with extra support needs, including a ceiling hoist, an adult-sized change table, and additional space to improve safety and comfort.

Making more than a three-hour round trip to Mount Gambier Hospital and spending five hours on a dialysis chair each week is a tough routine for Ros Tregoweth ... In this edition of Hard Talk, The [Naracoorte] News spoke with multiple stakeholders, including patients, who expressed a shared sense of urgency for renal care services to be made available locally.

Serena Kirby. Colin Sainty's near-fatal heart failure has prompted him to encourage more men not to put off seeing their doctor and to take charge of their health. Colin, 57, recently had a pacemaker and defibrillator fitted to keep his heart beating after initially brushing aside the early warning signs of trouble.

A new 42-page report published in the International Journal of Cardiovascular Research & Innovation has garnered information and data from 341 peer-reviewed studies that paint an alarming picture of Myocarditis risks post mRNA shots, and also raising questions of why regulators remain silent on the issue.