13th June 2008: With colder weather now at full strength, Queensland Health is advising all at-risk people in the South Burnett to get vaccinated against this year's flu. The people most at risk are people aged 65 years or older; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 50 years or older; and anyone (of any age) with a serious medical condition - particularly those with heart or respiratory diseases; diabetes; liver disease or asthma. Thanks to the National Immunisation Program, vaccinations for any of these groups of poeople are free. But since it generally takes about two weeks after a 'flu shot to build up full immunity, it's important that anyone planning a flu shot get it done as quickly as possible. Vaccinations can be performed by your local GP, and you can get a press release about this year's vaccination program by clicking here. You can also get a press release about the vaccination program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people by clicking here

18th February 2008: University of Queensand pharmacy graduate Dr. Selena Bartlett - whose parents ran the Nanango Pharmacy until November last year - is starting clinical trials of a new drug that could curb addictions such as smoking, drinking, gambling and even depression.

The drug - marketed as Chantix or Champix by Pfizer - has reduced alcohol consumption in laboratory rats by 50 percent and will be trialled in humans next month. Champix works by latching onto ‘good feeling' receptors in the brain to block cravings for addictions such as nicotine or alcohol.

Dr Bartlett is currently the Director of the Preclinical Development Group at the Ernest Gallo Clinic and Research Centre at the University of California in San Francisco. The Champix trials are just one of 10 major projects for Dr Bartlett's lab team, which is also working on reducing ethanol consumption and new drug screening technologies.

Dr. Bartett's interest in the area was inspired by a family tragedy. You can read the full story of her exciting new development by clicking here

Photo: Former Nanango-ite Dr. Selena Bartlett is a month away from human trials of a revolutionary new drug that could combat many forms of addiction (photo copyright to and courtesy of the University of Queensland)

12th February 2008: This coming Saturday 16th February, Wendy’s Kingaroy will be raising money to support CanTeen – the Australian organisation for young people living with cancer.

Wendy’s Kingaroy will join participating stores across the country in a national fundraising day where 50 cents from the sale of every Smoothie will be donated to CanTeen.

“The fundraising day for CanTeen is being held to celebrate the launch of Wanna-melon – our delicious new Watermelon Smoothie – and our staff will all be proudly supporting this by wearing CanTeen branded bandanas throughout the promotion,” said Wendy’s Kingaroy owner Marian Petersen. “CanTeen is a fantastic organisation doing wonderful work in our community, so we’re really pleased to be supporting such a worthwhile cause.”

With 1 in 3 men and 1 in 4 women directly affected by cancer in Australia before the age of 75, the work of organisations such as CanTeen is vital.

“CanTeen’s mission is to support, develop and empower young people living with cancer by providing an Australia-wide peer support network for 12-24 year-olds,” Wendy’s CEO Nicola Milne said. “At Wendy’s we see a lot of people of that age on both sides of the counter so we’re big supporters of the work that CanTeen does.”

A CanTeen donation tin will also be available in-store for customers to make additional donations. The Wanna-melon Smoothie is available for a limited time (from 11th February to the 16th March). A second fundraising day for CanTeen will also be held on Saturday 1st March.

Photo: Customer Samantha Munt tries the new Wanna-melon Smoothie from Wendy’s staff member Verity Gardner.

6th February 2008: In addition to grants to promote safe drinking amongst young women (see story below), Queensland Health said today that they're also willing to provide grants of up to $5,000 to community and sporting groups willing to promote smoke-free messages to indigenous communities.

Indigenous people are being targeted by this promotion because smoking rates are as high as 50% in indigenous communities, compared to 25% in the general population. And since tobacco is the leading cause of all drug-related preventable deaths, the campaign hopes that raising awareness of the dangers of smoking (including passive smoking) may have a positive effect.

Last year more than 15 events received funding under the program (including one run by Murgon State High School) and Queensland Health is hoping to be able to advance the campaign even further this year. You can obtain a press release about it by cliking here.

Photo: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander uni students take a break at the 11th National Indigenous Tertiary Education Student Games, which was sponsored by Queensland Healoth's Events Support Program.

31st January 2008: Queensland Health is reminding South Burnett sporting groups and community organisations that they can still apply for grants of up to $5,000 to promote safe alcohol consumption messages to young women, providing they act quickly.

Their "Make Up Your Own Mind" campaign - which was launched in September last year - is aimed at reducing unsafe alcohol consumption practices and minimising alcohol-related harm amongst 15 to 22 year olds. Grants may include the purchase of team sporting equipment, transportation costs, workshop fees, promotional material costs and registration fees.

You can obtain a press release about the campaign - which includes contact details to find out more information and/or obtain grant application kits - by clicking here (44K PDF). Grant applications will be accepted until 1st May 2008.

Photo: Queensland Health's safe drinking campaign is aimed at reducing risky alcohol consumption amongst young women aged 15-22 (photo copyright Queensland Health)

16th January 2008: Queensland Health Minister Stephen Robertson (pictured at right) was in Wondai yesterday to officially open the recent redevelopment of the Wondai Health Service.

This $17m redevelopment consists of a brand new 4-bed hospital; a palliative care suite and the renamed, refurbished 42-bed Forest View Residential Care Unit (formerly known as the Wienholt Nursing Care Unit). The Primary Health Care centre will be utilised as consulting rooms for visiting specialists.

Minister Robertson praised Wondai Shire Council and its community for their support and commitment to the improvement of regional health services, and acknowledged their patience whist the redevelopment was taking place. He also recognized the concerns raised by the local community about the impact the closure imposed during the redevelopment.

Wondai Shire Mayor Cr David Carter (who's also Chairman of the South Burnett Regional Council Local Transition Committee and the South Burnett Health Community Council) said “I'm pleased to see these wonderful facilities completed and the improved services which are available within one complex. The Wondai community has embraced this development and are proud of the services it will provide to health care within the South Burnett.

"In addition, the new state-of-the-art kitchen which is located underneath the refurbished building will provide all meals for Queensland Health facilities in the region once it reaches full capacity.”

15th November 2007: A Child Safety Research Forum on "Disability and Child Protection Practice� that will be held in Brisbane on Tuesday 20 November 2007 between 10:00am and 12:00 noon will be video-linked to Kingaroy to save interested South Burnett residents from a long drive.

The research forum will feature:

• Professor Lesley Chenoweth from Griffith University's School of Human Services, who'll be presenting a life course approach on children with disabilities on the points of intervention transitions (for example: birth, placement in care, shared care arrangements and then leaving care). She'll also present the current research on the interface between disability and child protection; and
   
• Dr Gill Parmenter, Child Safety Director, Disability Services Queensland who'll present the practice implications of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Department of Child Safety and Disability Services Queensland.

The forum will be held at the Education Centre of the Royal Children's Hospital in Brisbane, but will also be video-linked around the state. You can get a flyer about the forum along with contact details if you want to be part of the South Burnett audience by clicking here

12th November 2007: A new study into food safety habits has found that Australian men and young people still have a very poor understanding of food safety despite a decade of efforts to educate them.

The Food Safety Information Council has found that while Australians overall have improved their food safety habits considerably during the last decade, Australian men and young adults still rate worst in their knowledge and practice of food safety.

One glaring issue that the study identified is that 7% of women and 29% of men still don't wash their hands after using a bathroom near a shopping centre food hall - a possible contributor to the estimated 5.4 million cases of food poisoning that occur in Australia each year.

But since 20% of all food poisonings occur in the home, the study also suggests that a lack of knowledge about the basics of safe food handling is also likely to be playing a part. You can get a full press release about the study by clicking here

25th October 2007: Queensland Health will invest $1.2 million in upgrading staff accommodation at Kingaroy and Murgon Hospitals in an attempt to increase recruitment and retention of medical staff in the South Burnett.

Transition Operations Manager Linda South says the project was necessary because the current facilities aren't up to scratch.

Ms South says the two unit blocks will be ready for staff to move into in January 2008 and will become a drawcard for the hospitals. "The new staff accommodation is actually a valuable recruitment and retention tool for us," she said.

"It'll allow accommodation for medical nursing staff and other health professionals and it includes overnight short stays for reliving and locum staff."

15th October 2007: A new counselling service supported by the Medicare Health Rebate has opened in Blackbutt.

Mary Clarges - a qualified social worker and accredited mental health practitioner - provides counselling for depression; anxiety; stress management; and grief and loss. She's also able to provide individual, relationship, parenting or family therapy.

Her business trades as Excellent Choices Counselling and it operates at 19 Douglas Street in Blackbutt. Mary can be contacted by phoning (07) 4170-0718; by mobile on (0448) 475-359; or via email.