Lismore MP to join the ‘teal team’ during Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month
January 28, 2010
The Nationals Member for Lismore, Thomas George, says it’s time to join the teal team and wear a ribbon during Ovarian Cancer Australia’s Awareness Month in February.
Mr George said politicians will be joining the cause and wearing their teal ribbon on Wednesday 24 February 2010 to support sufferers and raise the importance of prevention.
“There are 1500 women in Australia diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year and more than half will die from the disease,” Mr George said.
“The goal of Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month is to see that every woman in Australia knows the symptoms of ovarian cancer because an early detection significantly increases the chances of a full recovery.”
Saffin turns first sod in $19.7 million Grafton Base redevelopment
January 28, 2010
Grafton Base Hospital early next year will boast three new operating theatres and an Emergency Department ‘equal to the best in Australia’ after Federal Page MP Janelle Saffin turned the first sod for the $19.7 million project today.
Ms Saffin said: “I am delighted to be able to turn the first sod for the long-awaited Grafton Base Hospital redevelopment work. It is an election promise to our Clarence Valley community and today’s sod turning with the immediate start of works that can be seen by the community makes it a seeing is believing reality.
“This is an election commitment made by me, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Minister for Health Nicola Roxon that gives me the greatest of pleasure. The people of Grafton fought hard for this and I am delivering.
20-year-old student involved in groundbreaking research
January 7, 2010
When 20-year-old Amy Coy enrolled at Southern Cross University, she had no way of anticipating that she would be involved in groundbreaking research on a new way of measuring blood pressure.
But Amy, a Lismore-based second-year student studying for her Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science in the School of Health and Human Sciences, has had her first research project supported by a Summer Scholarship from the Heart Foundation.
Lahey Constructions wins tender for Grafton Base Hospital upgrade
December 18, 2009
Page MP Janelle Saffin has welcomed a joint Federal-State announcement that Lahey Constructions Pty Ltd will start the main building works for a major upgrade of Grafton Base Hospital in the New Year.
Ms Saffin said she was delighted that work on one of her key election commitments – new operating theatres and a new emergency department – was expected to start in January 2010, and if all went according to plan, would be completed by early 2011.
Ms Saffin today joined Federal Minister for Health and Ageing Nicola Roxon and NSW Minister for Health Carmel Tebbutt in announcing this milestone in the project, which has a total cost of $19.735 million.
“My original election commitment was for $18 million, and I convinced project managers Health Infrastructure NSW to direct $1.2 million in interest earned to further consolidate this very important project for Grafton and the Clarence Valley,” she said.
Gerry Mopez reports on this year’s fourth annual Morning of the Mo …
November 28, 2009
Shellywatu, Ballina, November 21st, 2009. – Despite previous years’ crowd favourites such as Bunker Freckles (Bali) and Steven Radical (Austria) unable to attend this year’s gathering, the bar was still raised to new found levels of fun and participation.
The draw of 110 surfers from as far south as Victoria’s West Coast to the hot North of Noosa Heads rocked out in the sun to 70s whaling guitar riffs, riding pre-80s surfboards and proudly wearing their groomed moustaches, all in a bid for the most sought-after piece of iconic surfing meMOrabilia, the 2009 ‘STYLEMOSTER’ modallion.
From the 7am meet at Lighthouse carpark, Ballina, where prizes are awarded for the best arrival, it was on!
Starting with Moses and his 10 comMOndments, loudly interrupted by the 4-mo strong Mo Mads (Bikey Gang) muscling their way through the crowded carpark hurling eggs and abuse to the onlooking surfers, Evil Monevil soon stunt-rolled his way through the carpark after rolling in from the top of the hill on a kids bike that stopped traffic and resulted in a fire-extinguishing.
Mobi Wan Kenobi used the force of his 62 EJ Holden riding in on the roof, cape flowing and lightsaber drawn.
Rollerbladers wearing G-Strings and carrying single fins also put in an entry but it was Mo-Joe Hudson’s literally back-scrapping entry into the carpark covered in blood after an unsuccessful attempt at bombing the hill on his skatey that took it out!
Page, Richmond in top 10 electorates for dementia prevalence
November 25, 2009
The Far North Coast Federal electorates of Page and Richmond have been identified in the top 10 electorates for dementia prevalence, and will be affected by a ‘dementia tsunami’ as it becomes the disease of the century, according to Alzheimer’s Australia NSW.
New figures mapping the impact of the dementia epidemic in NSW were presented to Federal parliamentarians representing NSW Federal Electorates at Parliament House Australia this morning.
The NSW coast is expected to be the area hardest hit in the State by dementia, according to the figures, prepared for Alzheimer’s Australia NSW by Access Economics.
This means that a large proportion of the respite, support services, community care and aged residential care needed for people with dementia will fall outside the metropolitan areas of NSW, said the CEO of Alzheimer’s Australia NSW, John Watkins.
Women join up for specialist retreat
November 9, 2009
Sandy Forster, creator of internationally acclaimed WildlyWealthyWomen.com and recipient of the 2008 International Mentor of the Year Award, has joined forces with Leisa Wheeler, Australia’s favourite weight loss and detox guru, for a womens’ retreat.
Being held near Uki just south of the Gold Coast at the end of this month, the retreat is the culmination of two women’s personal journeys and their 40 years combined experience helping women achieve weight loss, prosperity and glowing health.
“There is a lot of talk today about anti-ageing, yet very little focus on ageing’s primary cause, which is stress and fatigue,” Leisa Wheeler said.
“Our work is to identify and unravel the causes of stress and give people tools to slow down the ageing process. This retreat delivers detoxification, weight loss and anti-ageing within a nurturing environment. It’s very powerful and liberating”.
Grafton Hospital upgrade meeting ‘encouraging’
October 29, 2009
A meeting on Tuesday between NSW Labor Deputy Premier and Health Minister Carmel Tebbutt, Clarence Nationals MP Steve Cansdell and Clarence Valley Mayor Cr Richie Williamson has yielded encouraging signs for the long-awaited upgrade of Grafton Base Hospital.
Mr Cansdell said the Minister had provided assurances the State Government would make up the shortfall from Federal funding to upgrade the A&E ward, operating theatres and carpark.
“While Ms Tebbutt was unable to commit to a specific figure because the tender process is still under way, she did say there would be no shortfall and the project would not be left unfinished,” Mr Cansdell said.
“The Minister initially questioned the need for a new carpark, but after convincing her of the dire need for additional parking at the hospital, the Minister was committed to ensuring there would be sufficient carparking.
New resources to increase osteoporosis awareness for men
October 21, 2009
New resources aimed at increasing awareness and diagnoses of osteoporosis in Australian men were launched yesterday to mark World Osteoporosis Day.
Aimed at providing information for members of the public and GPs, the brochures provide information on osteoporosis in men, including the common risk factors and how the disease can affect them.
One in four Australian men over the age of 60 will suffer a fracture due to osteoporosis. Fractures from osteoporosis are less common in men than in women but when fractures occur in men, they cause higher disability and death rates.
Musculoskeletal conditions, including arthritis and osteoporosis, affect around 6.3 million Australians.
Heads to be shaved in PET/CT fundraiser
October 19, 2009
Carmel Cook is known for the colourful streaks she puts in her hair, but they’ll be shaved off at the Lismore Workers Heights Bowling Club this Saturday (October 24).
Carmel, office manager for Page MP Janelle Saffin, will join three fellow cancer survivors in a joint head shave to raise funds for a PET/CT scanner at Lismore Base Hospital.
