Local Land Services runs emergency animal disease outbreak training exercise

In response to the threat of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in neighbouring countries, South East Local Land Services recently hosted an emergency management training exercise on 23 May in Yass. This exercise aimed to upskill and prepare agencies involved in emergency response and management for the event of an FMD incursion.

“We cannot underes mate the impact that FMD would have on Australia’s livestock industry,” said Mark Le uss, Principal Project Officer of Local Land Service’s Foot-and-Mouth Preven on and Preparedness Program. “It’s impera ve to ensure that our staff and stakeholders are trained and ready to act immediately in the event of an incursion.”

The exercise featured a livestock stands ll scenario with a endees running through the procedures and logis cs of implemen ng a livestock stands ll.

“If FMD was detected here, a na onal livestock stands ll would give us me to implement surveillance, tracing and control measures to restrict the spread of disease,” said Louise MacDonald, Risk and Emergency Coordinator.

Addi onally, the exercise included a personal protec ve equipment demonstra on, a presenta on on the importance of livestock tracing, and emergency animal disease outbreak scenarios for a endees to implement their skills. The day also included an op onal tour of South Eastern Livestock Exchange (SELX) Yass.

“FMD is a highly contagious disease that has the poten al to spread rapidly,” said Louise. “Our training exercise focuses on being able to stop that spread in the shortest possible me.”

Approximately 40 were in a endance on the day, with par cipants including Local Land Services staff, stock agents and other agencies such as NSW Police, SES, NSW Department of Primary Industries, NSW Department of Communi es and Jus ce, and the ACT Government.

SHOW AND SHINE .. SWAP MEET

Sunday 11th June 2023 From 10am At Sandy Place Reserve, Long Beach

Musician Carly Remm will entertain you, as you check out Classic and Vintage cars and bikes

Vote for People's Choice

FREE sites available for SWAP STALLS

COFFEE & FOOD VANS & SAUSAGE SIZZLE

Brought to you by Long Beach Community Associaon, Classic Vintage Motor Club Eurobodalla, Braidwood Car Club. Entry: Gold coin dona on www.longbeach.org.au www.iga.com.au/

Saint Cecilia Youth Music Scholarships Return For 2023

At the recent AGM of the St Cecilia Youth Music Scholarship's Commi ee a new President, Jessica Farrell, was unanimously elected, as was a new Vice-President Zoe Gallagher-Avery. Both ladies were finalists and award winners at the St Cecilia Awards Concert from 2001 to 2009, Jessica playing the piano and flute and Zoe , the piano. The commi ee was very excited that they have now returned to lead us in running the Scholarships.

"I have many fond memories of my me with the Scholarships and am now very happy and enthusias c to return and give back to the organisaon that helped me so much", said Jessica.

Above: St Cecilia Youth Scholarship's 2023 Commi ee, from le , John Haslem, Deborah Buchanan, Lindy Connolly, Jessica Farrell, Wendy Black, Julie Murray, Richard Edwards. Absent: Lyndall Lassau, Zoe Gallagher-Avery, Frances Harney, Chris Heazlewood

The Eurobodalla St Cecilia Youth Music Scholarship Associa on was formed back in 1995 by local resident Maria de Rocco to provide support, encouragement and financial support to local young musicians. Every year audi ons are held, with an independent adjudicator, for students from 8 to 18 years of age. There are two age divisions in both classical and contemporary music and twelve scholarships are awarded ranging from $200 to $1000.

This year's audi ons will be held on 7/8 October. The Awards Concert will be held at St Bernards Church on Sunday 19 November...an event not to be missed.

The commi ee is very pleased to thank Batemans Bay Rotary for offering to assist our commi ee this year

Further informa on will soon be provided on our website www.stcecilia.org.au

11 for 11:30am

Friday 26 June

Narooma Golf Club

$30pp

Presenter: Artist and musician Margaret Moran

Contact: Rosemary Towers

02 44762614

and then one day you pass blood ....

A heads up. I felt perfectly fine. Then out of the blue I passed blood in my urine. The next day I went to the doctor to be then referred to a urologist. Long story short ... my le kidney had been taken over by a tumour that had also managed to entwine itself around my aeorta. Fortunately, by way of public health, I was operated on for nine hours with the kidney removed. Seven days recovery in hospital and gently goes it for a few months later. The point is... I had NO idea that my kidney had all but failed. Be aware that this story could happen to all of us.... Read Tina Turners post above.

Kidney Health Australia is urging adults to take a simple two-minute online test to determine if they are at risk of developing kidney disease.

Of the 2 million – or one in 10 – Australian adults affected by kidney disease, 1.8 million are completely unaware of it - likely due to the lack of symptoms. However, an easy online test during Kidney Health Week from May 21 to 27 could be the reality check they need. The online test developed by Kidney Health Australia can be taken anywhere, any me, and includes nine ques ons that help iden fy your risk of kidney disease. The test will determine whether a follow-up appointment with your GP for a Kidney Health Check is recommended – a simple check that could save your life.

Three in four Australians are at risk of kidney disease with the highest contribu ng factors being diabetes and high blood pressure. Kidney disease has no symptoms and 90 per cent of kidney func on can be lost without warning, meaning diagnosis is o en too late and li le can be done at that late stage to avoid kidney failure. However, early detec on can slow or even stop the progression of this insidious, incurable, and deadly disease.

Take the kidney health test at: h ps://kidney.org.au/kidneyrisktest/

Bega Valley and Eurobodalla locals join together to prevent suicide

With suicide being the leading cause of death for Australians aged between 15 and 44 years, a new crosssectoral alliance has been formed in the Bega Valley and Eurobodalla, working together to lower suicide rates within the region. The group is also working to ensure support op ons meet local people’s needs, are inclusive, compassionate, sustainable and accountable.

The newly formed Bega Valley Eurobodalla Suicide Preven on Collabora ve (the Collabora ve) consists of more than 25 individuals, including representa ves from 18 local organisa ons and en es including government, non-government, health, educa on, social services and community bodies. This is not a closed group, the invita on to join the Collabora ve is open to like-minded individuals and organisa ons. According to Jo Riley, Suicide Preven on Program Manager at COORDINARE - South Eastern NSW Primary Health Network, the official launch of The Collabora ve will be held on Thursday 25 May at 10am at the Bega Valley Civic Centre with representa on from local community members, people with lived experience of suicide, service providers and local organisa ons. Everyone is welcome.

Jo explained, “It makes sense for suicide preven on interven ons to work within a community, there needs to be a broad range of approaches, targe ng many areas, simultaneously. There is evidence in overseas and na onal research that this approach, called the systems approach, has helped to lower suicide numbers.”

“In late 2022, we held planning workshops to help map the future direc on of suicide preven on approaches and supports in the Bega Valley and Eurobodalla regions,” Jo said.

We have held a lot of discussions about our shared purpose, values and iden ty, said Helen Best, lived experience advocate and Chair of the Bega Valley Suicide Preven on Ac on Network.

"We are very much a grass roots group wan ng to involve and empower our community. By drawing on local experience, giving people with lived experience a voice and crea ng be er connec ons we aim to improve services for the communi es where we live and work,” said Helen.

“The Collabora ve will help advocate for the needs of the region, asking for the changes needed to reduce suicide within our rural and regional context,” Glenn Co er, local lived experience advocate and R U OK? Ambassador added.

“People sharing their stories of lived or living experience of suicide is having a posi ve and preventa ve effect, helping to reduce s gma and improve understanding in the community of the factors that contribute to suicide and the supports available. People with lived experience also iden fy the best ways to connect people with supports and improvements so support services are more approachable and user friendly,” said Glenn.

Jo Riley added, “An unacceptable number of people die each year by suicide. In Australia in 2021, 3,144 people died by suicide in Australia. It is es mated that a further 65,000 will make a suicide a empt and 1 in 6 Australians will have serious thoughts of suicide in their life me.

“While suicide preven on is an issue at the na onal and state level, on the South Coast we know that we lose around 15 people every year to suicide. Every life lost is one too many and each suicide affects a large number of people, such as the person’s family, friends, children, partners and work colleagues. Our communi es are so interconnected, many people know of someone who has died by suicide,” said Jo.