Vote for health
By Nasik Swami: At the next state election, cast a vote as though your life and health may depend upon it. That’s the message from Lachlan Haynes, the chair of Limestone Coast Radiation Working Group—a group that has been fighting tooth and nail for the establishment of a radiation therapy service for the region. Last week, the Liberal Opposition announced that a Liberal government will deliver critical care closer to home for cancer patients in the Limestone Coast if it forms government....
Our top cop!
By Nasik Swami: He is our top cop. Naracoorte’s Senior Constable Chris Mailley has been awarded the 2024 South Australia Police Officer of the Year. The 59-year-old received the Rotary Club of Unley award for his dedication to the local community and work in assisting domestic and family violence victims. Originally from the United Kingdom, Senior Constable Mailley became a police officer almost 30 years ago. “I feel very humbled to be receiving this award. It’s nice to be awarded later in...
Trevor Smart retires
By Chris Oldfield and Nasik Swami: NARACOORTE Lucindale Council CEO Trevor Smart has resigned after six years in the top job and is looking forward to spending more time with his family. Mr Smart has spent 41 years in local government and six years with Naracoorte Lucindale Council. In a bid to help the council transition to a new CEO, he will stay on until the end of February, unless a new executive is found beforehand. Mayor Patrick Ross said he advised elected members of Mr Smart’s decision...
Hard Talk!
Issue One: Food Prices. Respondents: Premier Peter Malinauskas and Opposition Leader Vincent Tarzia. By Nasik Swami: The News is introducing a new series called Hard Talk, focusing on in-depth interviews with hard-hitting questions on issues relating to communities like ours. Through this series, we aim to ask our leaders, bureaucrats, and decision makers to respond to the various issues affecting our community—our businesses, our farmers, our workers, our children, along with our health,...
Inspiring our young leaders
Last week, the Naracoorte Cub Scouts had an exciting visit to the Naracoorte Council office. They were joined by Mayor Patrick Ross and Deputy Mayor Monique Crossling to learn how council operates, how a council meeting is run, and toured the council office. The Scouts explored the building, viewed historical maps of Naracoorte, admired the honour boards, and checked out some old surveying equipment. Picture: NLC.
Characters & colors galore!
Students, teachers and staff members of Naracoorte Primary School marked the Book Week parade last week by dressing up in their favourite characters from a book. Picture: Naracoorte Primary School Facebook Page.
Who was consulted?
By Nasik Swami and Chris Oldfield: Health Minister Chris Picton claims the Limestone Coast Local Health Network (LCLHN) has implemented several changes to improve the care being provided to the people of Lucindale, following input from the community. But the Lucindale community disagrees with the minister and after being excluded from several meetings, says it still has not been consulted. Many residents report nursing services still have not returned to previous reliable or adequate capacity. Earlier this year the State Government cut phone lines, removed vaccines and virtually shut down the Lucindale Health Centre nursing services – as previously reported by The News. It did so without warning and without consulting the community, forcing elderly, sick and frail people with no driving ability to travel 80 kms round trips and more for nursing services. A high-level meeting was held at Parliament House last March between Mr Picton, his LCLHN representatives, […]
Flying foxes among us
By Chris Oldfield: AROUND 5,000 or so grey-headed flying foxes, often called fruit bats, currently have two main camps – one near Naracoorte and the other around Mount Burr. The flying foxes can carry the deadly Lyssavirus and Hendra virus – anyone scratched or bitten must seek urgent medical attention. Even dead bats are considered too dangerous to touch, particularly as the highly fatal Lyssavirus has been found in SA bat populations. With a wingspan of up to one metre, they can weigh as much as one kilogram. During the day bats can be seen roosting upside down in their “camps”. At dusk they leave their camp to forage for food up to 20 kms away, sometimes much more, returning at dawn. They usually like to feed on nectar from flowering gums. One of the main camps for flying foxes locally is in pines near the Naracoorte Caves. But readers […]
Community uproar
Minister defends his position on radiation therapy By Nasik Swami: Minister for Health and Wellbeing, Chris Picton, has confirmed his position for no radiation service in the South East. Following the recent release of the independent feasibility study report, which...
Tough ride!
Our Racheal joins the prestigious Racing SA Apprentice Academy By Nasik Swami: It’s been a tough ride, but Naracoorte’s Racheal Kraemer is not giving up. The 29-year-old has made it to the prestigious Racing SA Apprentice Academy, a journey filled with optimism, love,...
Powers tougher than ASIO for Landscape Boards
By Chris Oldfield: SOME public servants could soon enter homes without a warrant to “seize documents” including computers, phones, diaries, and bank statements under calls for tough new laws for SA Landscape Boards. Harsher than laws for Federal Police against...
“Fit for purpose”
By Nasik Swami: The emergency department at Naracoorte Hospital is being fixed to make it “fit for purpose”. Health Minister Chris Picton says the community deserves to have a hospital they are proud of and can provide a high quality of care. Mr Picton was part of a...
3G switch-off
By Nasik Swami: Already fed up with mobile connectivity issues? Wait, there’s more coming your way, as all of Australia’s 3G networks go off in the coming months. Once the 3G mobile network is switched off, people will be left without means of communication in some regional areas, and the devices they rely on will be rendered useless. Many stakeholders in regional South Australia are calling the switch off unfair, putting unnecessary stress and pressure on those who use 3G-compatible handsets, and a government supporting mobile operators over its people. The big question being asked by the stakeholders is: how will network users on 3G devices be able to make Triple Zero emergency calls, and why are people being forced to upgrade their devices to a 4G- compatible one over a commercial decision? What happens to network users in Naracoorte and surrounding towns, where 4G connectivity is not so good […]
Police need help
By Chris Oldfield: LOCAL police are seeking further information regarding several incidents throughout Naracoorte Lucindale and Tatiara districts. Naracoorte Sergeant Simon Haebich said he was particularly concerned about a break-in at Keith last month. During the night or early morning of July 14-15, while occupants slept an offender entered through an unlocked door and stole car keys. The offender then used them to steal the car parked outside in the driveway. “A short time later that vehicle was captured on CCTV at a business premises on Bordertown’s Western Services Road where it rammed a cyclone gate, and then drove off,” Sgt Haebich said. “It is also suspected of being involved in some other `unlawfully on premises’ matters in the Bordertown light industrial area that morning. “Entry was gained in some business premises but there were no actual thefts. “Nobody has been apprehended yet. The big thing for us is security […]
No radiation therapy
By Nasik Swami: The establishment of a radiation therapy service in Mount Gambier for the South East has been scrapped. An independent feasibility study has found that the establishment of a radiation therapy service in Mount Gambier for the South East to deliver cancer care is not “currently a safe, sustainable, or financially viable option”. The design and planning of the new Mount Gambier Cancer Care Centre have been on hold while the feasibility study into radiation therapy services was undertaken. The feasibility study has recommended changes to how cancer care is delivered in the region. The Limestone Coast Local Health Network Governing Board announced that it would pursue changes to the cancer treatment regimen, reduced requirements for travel, and the establishment of dedicated local cancer leadership, as well as advocate for adequate compensation for travel. LCLHN governing board chair, Dr Andrew Saies, welcomed the report’s findings and thanked everyone […]
We won’t give up
By Chris Oldfield: NARACOORTE based radiotherapy working group chairman Lachlan Haynes has vowed “we won’t give up” following a $110,000 feasibility study rejecting South East radiation services. Meanwhile, the $243million Limestone Coast Local Health Network (LCLHN) is aiming to spend $4.3 million of federal funding for radiation services on a Cancer Consult Suite at the Mount Gambier Hospital. According to the LCLHN’s meeting minutes, it decided to do that in February 2022, before it hired Health Q to do a feasibility study. “This is a decision that treats us in regional South Australia as second-class citizens, especially those with cancer,” Mr Haynes said. “The former Coalition Federal Government put $4.3 million into a radiation therapy service for the South East. “The Malinauskas Government can’t even put $1.3 million towards running it. “But it can spend $42 million on a football oval at Lyndoch. Where is the sense in that? “Other […]
Tough ride!
Our Racheal joins the prestigious Racing SA Apprentice Academy By Nasik Swami: It’s been a tough ride, but Naracoorte’s Racheal Kraemer is not giving up. The 29-year-old has made it to the prestigious Racing SA Apprentice Academy, a journey filled with optimism, love,...
“Fit for purpose”
By Nasik Swami: The emergency department at Naracoorte Hospital is being fixed to make it “fit for purpose”. Health Minister Chris Picton says the community deserves to have a hospital they are proud of and can provide a high quality of care. Mr Picton was part of a...
3G switch-off
By Nasik Swami: Already fed up with mobile connectivity issues? Wait, there’s more coming your way, as all of Australia’s 3G networks go off in the coming months. Once the 3G mobile network is switched off, people will be left without means of communication in some...
No radiation therapy
By Nasik Swami: The establishment of a radiation therapy service in Mount Gambier for the South East has been scrapped. An independent feasibility study has found that the establishment of a radiation therapy service in Mount Gambier for the South East to deliver...
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