Health & Wellbeing

There's been a tenfold increase of positive Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in the Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLHD) in the past three days, with a further nine cases identified since Sunday night. In the Southern NSW Local Health District, covering the South East, Monaro, Tablelands and Coastal regions, there are now 12 confirmed cases after almost 1000 tests have been administered....

South Coast communities have been forced to issue a plea for visitors to stay away as coronavirus begins to make an impact on the battered region and health services gear up to deal with a rising curve of infections. "2020 certainly has tested us and it appears the tests continue", Eurobodalla mayor Liz Innes said this week, following the announcement...

It's the question on everyone's lips: when will schools close in response to the virus which puts our elderly population and those with low immunity at risk? Today, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian is urging parents to keep their children at home if possible but no official shutdown has been announced. Last week, Mumbulla School for Rudolf Steiner Education, a small...

Regional coronavirus cases are beginning to proliferate across the Capital region and southern NSW as cases are confirmed in the Eurobodalla, Goulburn, Queanbeyan Palerang and Murrumbidgee districts. Southern NSW Local Health District (SNSWLHD) has confirmed six cases of COVID-19 have been formally identified. These include: A Canberra man in his 60s who was recently overseas and on his return showed signs...

One thing I know about humans is that we don't love change when it comes via an external tide. If we favoured flexibility, we'd have already looked at each other and said: "you know, there are billions of people in this world, pandemics are inevitable, so let's integrate safe handwashing into our cultural practice." If we welcomed change, we'd stop...

There’s been an unfortunate side effect to the shortage of toilet paper in the Hilltops region. As supermarket staff stave off busloads of city shoppers who ride into our towns hell bent on raiding shelves for the necessities that residents are already lining up at dawn to buy, it seems shire-wide sewerage systems are now buckling under the pressure. Hilltops...

The older we get, the more important it is to maintain fitness, not just for heart health and mobility, but to make us less susceptible to falls. The paradox being that as exercise becomes more important, the harder it can be. That's where aqua fitness comes in. Aqua fitness is a growing industry as more people realise the benefits of low-impact...

Those of us with children and young people in our care are having to navigate a whole range of concerns due to COVID-19. Key among these is the issue of schools and whether or not they will be closed. And if not now, when? After all, we are being told as a community to reduce our time with others, practise...

"With great sadness and regret," the email from Four Winds Easter Festival begins, "we have decided not to go ahead with the 2020 Easter Festival in Bermagui." The Four Winds Easter Festival joins the growing ranks of cancelled community events around the country because of COVID-19, which was categorised as a pandemic by the World Health Organisation on 11 March....

Emma Kemp knows she is one of the lucky ones. Not only did she beat ovarian cancer, but she did not lose her fertility in the process. The 33-year-old University of Canberra Hospital nurse is now paying it forward, getting the message out about a disease that is often detected late and only has a 46 per cent five-year survival...

Although the South Coast is green again, a way forward is still unclear for many victims of fire, as the organisations on the frontline are seeing. John Oddie is new to his position with Convoy Missions Australia but says it all feels strangely familiar. "I had no idea who Convoy Missions were until just before Christmas but the work I've been doing...

Following 441 negative tests in the ACT for coronavirus, Canberra has confirmed its first case of the virus today (12 March). "I regret to inform Canberrans that we have our first case of COVID-19 in the Territory," ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr said. ACT's Chief Health Officer Dr Kerryn Coleman said a man aged in his 30s tested positive for...

If you’re out and about the South West Slopes this weekend, be aware of the scores of pedalling feet taking part in the Zoo2Zoo bike ride in aid of the Black Dog Institute. With an increase of 22 riders this year, they have already exceeded their fundraising goal of $100,000 and are now just focused on getting to Dubbo safely,...

Isabella Plains couple Brian and Katie Meilak moved to Queensland in 2015 to access autism services for their son Zachary, but now a new autism hub in Canberra will mean families in the region will get the help they need here in the national capital. The world-class autism hub, with $3.5 million in capital funding from the John James Foundation and owned and...

Scoping is underway with work to begin mid-year on a $200,000 refurbishment of the Cootamundra Hospital palliative care unit. Cootamundra Hospital is one of 34 palliative care facilities across the state to be refurbished over the next two years thanks to NSW government funding. The rooms will include a kitchenette, ensuite, new floor coverings, paint and soft furnishings. Murrumbidgee Local...

Hospitals throughout the Riverina and South West Slopes will get an injection of new blood this year as 85 nursing graduates prepare to join the staff ranks. One registered midwife and 52 registered nurses are set to start in the regional and rural hospitals this month, while a further 33 registered nurses will start in August 2020. In making the...