NEWS
Friday April 16, 2021
Cairns Local News
CAIRNS
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PARK TO BE RENAMED BLACKFELLOWS Creek Park in Edmonton will be renamed to Allan and May Oliver Park / Bana Gindarja Park. The move comes after the Gimuy Walubarra Yidinji Traditional Owners requested the park be renamed as it was no longer considered appropriate. Allan and May Oliver were very active in the Edmonton community for decades, particularly through their participation and involvement in rugby league, as well as supporting local children. The name Bana Gindarja was requested by the Traditional Owners of the area and refers to the story of the cassowary, which is their totem.
Community consultation was undertaken during February 2021 for a period of three weeks, with response demonstrating strong support for the proposal. Blackfellows Creek Park is on the southern side of Blackfellows Creek adjacent to Cooktown Road and Oberonia Street, Edmonton.
CAIRNS
NEW DOG & CAT HOME
Patients in the expanded dialysis unit. Back: Shanelle Graham, Middle: Millicent Smith, Front: Myrtle Barkley.
Increased health services to Yarrabah MORE people can now receive kidney dialysis in Yarrabah with three extra dialysis chairs opening at the local Gurriny Yealamucka Health Services Aboriginal Corporation (Gurriny) this week. The expanded dialysis unit will be able to dialyse 14 Yarrabah patients (eight of whom previously travelled to Cairns up to three times a week for dialysis). This investment in dialysis at Yarrabah by the Queensland Government’s First Nations COVID-19 project brings the total number of dialysis chairs in Yarrabah to seven. The funding allows for up to 20 more Yarrabah residents to receive dialysis treatment in their home community. Executive Director of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health at Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service Joy Savage
welcomed the expanded service and said it was stood up in record time. “This time last year, the COVID-19 pandemic combined with the then biosecurity arrangements posed new challenges for patients, communities and the health system,” said Ms Savage. “Our Health Service moved quickly to work with Gurriny to expand the existing satellite dialysis service to deliver additional sessions, allowing more people to receive treatment in community, close to home, and on country,” said Ms Savage. “This was possible thanks to the extraordinary commitment and determination of Gurriny’s leadership team, together with expert teams from Queensland Health,” said Ms Savage. Sue Andrews, Chief Executive at Gurriny said the extension to the dialysis facility is whole-heartedly welcomed
by patients. “It will improve our patient’s lives on a daily basis, improve the lives of their families and our community as a whole.” “We thank everyone involved who came together to make this extended and much-needed service a reality.” “At Gurriny, we value the responsibility of providing a quality health service to all residents of Yarrabah,” said Ms Andrews. Dr Jason King, Senior Medical Officer at Gurriny said kidney disease is a serious health problem for many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. “Dialysis is the leading cause of hospitalisation accounting for almost half of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander hospital admissions,” he said. “We welcome access to the increased number of di-
alysis chairs for the people of Yarrabah suffering with severe kidney disease but as a service we are firmly committed to preventing people from needing this service in the future. “Our partnership with the Health Service allows us to deliver a culturally appropriate model-of-care to our people on their land and the ability to provide the Yarrabah community the highest quality primary care service,” said Dr King. This expansion at Yarrabah is part of a wider expansion of dialysis services in the greater Cairns region. “The opening of Cairns South Health Facility in Edmonton late last year, provided an additional 12 dialysis chairs, reducing the need for many patients living on the southside to travel to and from Cairns Hospital three times a week,” said Ms Savage.
A NEW animal management facility with more than double the capacity of the existing Council facility has been given the green light. Council this week approved the $7.3 million animal management facility, which will be built on Links Drive in Woree. The purpose-built facility will be able to accommodate up to 72 dogs and 60 cats at any time and provide services including reclaiming of lost animals, rehoming, impounding and basic medical treatment for in-house animals. The design includes medical treatment facilities, covered exercise yards, separate areas for holding general stray or impounded animals, provision for maternity or high-care situations, dangerous dogs, and diseased pets. There is also a public reception area, administration office space, consultation room, meeting room, staff room, amenities, store, and laundry.
A report to Council to noted that the existing animal management facility at 148 McCoombe Street, Bungalow, has reached the end of its usefulness and will not meet future demands. The facility is also challenging in terms of disease control and an animal management perspective due to poorly designed kennels and lack of drainage, temperature control and exercise yards.
CAIRNS
YOUTH URBAN ART THE first of this year’s Youth Urban Art project murals has been completed at Information Park, Smithfield. The mural design was created by local young emerging artist Madeline Tongue, who was supported and mentored by Sharon Wedel. Encapsulating the “beauty of the northern beaches”, the mural captures the colours and shapes of the mountains, rainforest and reef. As part of the Youth Urban Art
project, murals will be completed at Glenoma Park, Brinsmead, and the underpass at Sinclair Miller Bridge, Bentley Park, in coming months.
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