Mothers’ group scales up CaFHS campaign
A southern Yorke Peninsula mothers’ group has had to buy its own scales to weigh newborn babies because of what members say is a lack of local services provided by Child and Family Health Services ... "The wait time for a face-to-face appointment was three months. We have had babies up to 7 months old coming to the group who had only been seen by a CaFHS nurse once as a newborn": Katie Hughes, facilitator of Yorketown's new Mama Meet Up group.
Roger that, instant home two years after house fire
Roger bought a house in Mallanganee in 2003. Two years ago, the house was burned to the ground ... Roger said he has been homeless since the fire. That changed with the delivery of a self contained small house costing about $77,000. The house has a kitchenette, shower and basin and somewhere to sleep. Roger is “stoked” about the help he is getting from his mates to make the small house a home.
Rural Queensland family host unique fundraiser event at The Ekka
There are 20,800 Australians currently living with spinal cord injuries, so no matter where you come from, it’s likely you know someone affected. A beef producing family from north-west Queensland who have experienced the impacts of a spinal injury first hand, are hosting a unique fundraising event during this year’s Ekka featuring a luncheon and invitational bull ride.
Bad medicine for regional Australia
Trent Twomey. Sixty-day dispensing may sound good, but dig a little deeper and it’s rural and regional Australia that will pay ... “You don’t know what you got ‘til it’s gone.” It may as well be the theme song for 60-day dispensing, where pharmacists will be required to dispense two months’ worth of medicine for the price of one month.
Parents re-take dinner time, for your children’s sake
Regional townships have a huge advantage over big cities in an ability to authentically inject a sense of connection and inclusion into the community ... when people know their family history, you will hear stories of enterprise, resilience, perseverance and bravery, which help fuel a sense of pride and family identity ... the research is quite clear. Children who know their family history have a sense of belonging, and in turn are more resilient.
Bonza pens an open letter to customers to announce its refreshed route map
Bonza has shared an open letter to customers communicating changes it will be making in order to “earn the respect of Aussie travellers”. The letter, shared on the airline’s social media channels, outlines changes to its route map and schedule that are designed to set the airline up for long-term success and reduce the likelihood of cancellations.
Urgent Care Clinic deadline missed
An Urgent Care Clinic in Toowoomba, promised to be up and running by 1 July 2023, is yet to be finished ... The Federal Labor Government had promised the Toowoomba UCC, as well as 50 others around the country, would be up and running by the deadline ... So far, only eleven UCCs have opened, nine in Victoria and two in Western Australia.
The joy of a colourful life
Couleur Parfumerie is indeed the perfect title for Michelle Kennedy’s first solo exhibition which opened last week at Toowoomba’s Feather and Lawry Gallery. The works are unapologetically vibrant and joyous, unbottling a fearless feminine energy.
Covid vaxx discrimination Bill deadline extended
The reporting time for the Covid-19 Vaccination Status (Prevention of Discrimination) Bill 2022 and the Fair Work Amendment (Prohibiting Covid-19 Vaccine Discrimination) Bill 2023 has been extended to August 25, 2023. On February 9, 2023, the Senate referred to the committee with the bill’s intention to prohibit the commonwealth, states and territories and other government and non-government entities from discriminating on the basis of whether a person has had a Covid-19 vaccination in the provision of goods, services and facilities and also in employment, education, accommodation and sport, and amend the Fair Work Act 2009 by adding Covid-19 vaccination status as an attribute protected from discrimination.
Trotting trainer in US spotlight
Narrandera harness racing trainer Ellen Bartley now features in an American Harness Racing Update (HRU) publication. Born in Kyabram, Victoria, Bartley now resides in Narrandera and currently has 18 horses that she and her partner Blake Jones own and train.
World adult games champions heading for Victoria
Playing games on horseback is not just for kids. The 37th World Championships for Adult Mounted Games will be held at Werribee Park from October 8 to 15, with 18 nations competing. Most would know the story of how Mounted Games were created by Prince Philip as a competition for children who could not afford an expensive, purebred pony and that in 1957 the Horse of the Year Show staged the first Mounted Games Championship for the Prince Philip Cup.
Kaniva celebrate National Tree Day
Kaniva District Landcare Group held a successful tree planting day in celebration of National Tree Planting Day on Saturday at Lillimur. There were over 1200 trees planted on Victoria Toogood’s property at Lillimur in approximately 2 hours.
AirPhysio launches a range of respiratory health products in the UAE
AirPhysio is an Australian Made and Owned Medical Device manufacturer based in the Northern Rivers of NSW ... AirPhysio has expanded from 5 countries in January 2021 to 106 countries in the past 2 years, they decided to enter the Middle East through Arab Health in January 2022, bringing home l75 leads from over 25 countries..
Trial for 24/7 guards at Wallaroo Hospital
Security guards will be trialled at Wallaroo Hospital following a vigorous campaign by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Foundation SA Branch and the local community. State Health Minister Chris Picton announced ... the Yorke and Northern Local Health Network board had decided to trial the use of 24/7 guards for six months at the Wallaroo and Port Pirie Hospitals, starting as soon as possible. This follows recent terrifying incidents at both hospitals.
Push to create an ag-tractive local show experience
Tash Westbrook is passionate about creating more agricultural experiences at the 2023 Copper Coast Show in Kadina on Saturday and Sunday, August 19-20. Since joining the show committee in 2019, Tash has reintroduced an ag learning centre and led animal competition to the show ... Tash, also the show’s junior vice-president, said the show’s importance stretches across the community.
Half-a-century in journalism
Shane O’Shea. After a long and very enjoyable fifty-one-and-a-half-year association with the "Buloke Times" (formerly the "Donald Times" and "Donald-Birchip Times"), I have made the difficult decision to retire, which came into effect as of June 30. I first joined the staff of the then "Donald Times" as a 16 -year-old, after completing Form 4 at Donald High School .
Butler woman banned from owning pets for five years
RSPCA WA says a 43-year-old woman who let her dog suffer with painful and severe matting for at least six months has been found guilty of animal cruelty ... In sentencing, Magistrate De Maio said the dog an 11-year-old Maltese shih-tzu named Emma–had been ‘neglected in the most cruel way’.
The ability to coach is a life skill – It is how regional communities tick!
Whether you are a coach of a junior sports team, president of a volunteer organisation, manager of a workplace, teacher or parent, an ability to coach and influence others is a life skill. Regional Australia has a long and proud history of coaching and influencing each other. It is how we get through difficult times together.
Kids matter
“When our children come to us, and we’re available, we are there, and we’re listening, and it could just be just 30 seconds, it could be something very important they want to tell us, then stop and listen, send that message that we are available.” These thoughts come to a town that spends a great deal of time talking about a cohort of children, different ones from year to year but always around 50 to 120 of them, out in the streets at night, breaking into homes and businesses, trashing, stealing cars, torching some.
A mixologist walked into a bar in Maldon”¦
If you didn’t know that gin was distilled from vodka or whisky from beer, you’re not alone. So, when award-winning mixologist Gorge Camorra came to Maldon last weekend to discuss all things spirits, the people came to listen. And it’s not too late! He’ll do it all again this weekend.
Community spirit on show for NAIDOC Week
Tennant Creek has celebrated NAIDOC Week with a range of community events. Despite some inclement weather, the festivities kicked off with a Community BBQ at the Transit Centre, which included a jumping castle for kids and hair braiding in the colours of the Aboriginal flag. The NAIDOC March on Monday was a heartwarming event, with awards presented to outstanding First Nations individuals.
$550,000 machine saving more lives
Patients arriving at Naracoorte Hospital from vehicle crashes, farm accidents and sports injuries will no longer be always sent away for further high tech, detailed computer tomography scans ... A scanner installed 7.5 years ago – which saved hundreds of lives – has now been replaced with a $550,000 new, faster, high-tech one. And not one cent of government funding was involved.
