Ride for grieving parents

l GORDONVALE

| Isabella Guzman Gonzalez

THE 2023 Alive Pharmacy Ride for Isabel has set a $30,000 fundraising target to go towards a room in Cairns Hospital exclusively for families experiencing pregnancy loss to create a comforting space where parents can grief.

On August 27, the event in partnership with Far North Queensland Hospital

Foundation (FNQHF) and Alive Pharmacy Warehouse aims to fundraise $30,000 for a dedicated space where parents who have just experienced the loss of their newborn can go to rest and grief.

The amateur cycling ride honouring Mulgrave MP Curtis Pitt’s daughter Isabel, who was stillborn at 41 weeks, has a 50km and 100km format, departing from Gordonvale, down to Aloomba and culminating in Gordonvale. The event also aims to raise awareness on stillbirth and neonatal death.

Mt Sheridan resident Jayne Steinborner has been a rider and volunteer at the Ride for Isabel for seven years, after losing two babies, Matthew at 21 weeks and Talia at 27 weeks. She is moved by this year’s goal.

“This ride was the first I did as a cyclist and it was the start of my healing process, so it’s significant for me,” she said.

To register for the Ride for Isabel, visit https://bit.ly/449Muhh

Aussies are being screwed by all

PERHAPS some thought should be given to the people who are being forced to live in their cars or homeless due to several rate increases by the banks.

The main banks have issued statements that they have made billions of dollars in profits.

And giving their chief executives huge bonuses, this on the back of people having to pay higher rents, higher mortgages and higher food prices.

Insurance rates are almost robbery. Mining companies and fuel companies are also making huge profits.

Perhaps we can still blame the war in Ukraine, although I think not.

The Australian public need to wake up. We are being screwed.

On a local matter the new cycleway between Cairns and Edmonton. How much did this debacle cost?

How many homes could have been built with the money wasted on this project.

Get motivated Australia. Wake up.

Very demoralised.

Alan

Manac, Edmonton

60-day scripts are diabolical

THE Pharmacy Guild is calling on the Albanese Government to sit down, properly consult and commit to an early start date for an eighth Community Pharmacy Agreement (8CPA) over the next three weeks, before the Senate returns on September 4 to consider further disallowance motions.

Community pharmacists want cheaper medicine for all patients, while also preventing further negative impacts on patients, aged care residents and pharmacies, as a result of unintended consequences from 60-days dispensing.

Major health groups representing patients, including the Australian Patients Association, Pain Australia and Better Access Australia, called for the policy be delayed.

More time is needed to ensure unintended consequences didn’t negatively impact patients and pharmacies.

All pharmacists want cheaper medicine for their patients and we are ready, willing and able to sit down with the government and make sensible adjustments to the policy so patients, aged care residents and pharmacists aren’t negatively impacted.

We want the government to hear our concerns, properly consult with us, and commit to an early start date for an eighth Community Pharmacy Agreement, before the Senate considers further potential motions when they return on September 4.

A nationwide survey of 1000 community pharmacies, conducted by the Pharmacy Guild in the past week, shows almost one in four (23 per cent) have reduced opening hours and more than half (54 per cent) have increased fees for services. 250 pharmacy workers have also been made redundant.

Professor Trent Twomey, Pharmacy Guild president

Pharmacies are in crisis situation

I WOULD support the Coalition’s

Local join our online debate be a

Last week we asked the question: What do you think about Singapore Airlines increasing seat and freight capacity into Cairns? Here are some of your comments.

Way to go Cairns Airport. A great team behind the scenes doing great work to promote the Far North.

Larry, Facebook

So happy to see Singapore Airlines launching their new aircraft into Cairns. I have always experienced great service and friendliness on their flights.

Beatrice, Facebook

THIS WEEK’S

Question

Do you think a youth jail should be built at Edmonton?

@cairnslocalnews disallowance motion (now delayed) on the government’s 60-day dispensing policy, fearing the changes will destroy communities and create a pharmaceutical “big two”.

The proposed changes set for September 1 will allow patients to buy 60 days’ worth of medication with one script – effectively halving the

Just need Cairns Airport and government agencies to lift their game now to appropriate standards and we’re on to a winner.

Michael, Facebook

I love it. I hope Cathay Pacific comes back too.

Jack, Facebook income of the chemist, and allowing larger businesses with a stronger buying power to out compete smaller community operations.

I immediately and urgently raised the alarm over the proposal when contacted by dozens of pharmacists in my electorate in April, stating smaller pharmacies feared medica-

So why can’t Qatar get approval for more flights into Australia?

The minister responsible won’t say. Lobbying from Qantas I believe.

Andrew, Facebook

Not only does it mean more seats but cargo capacity now at 45 tonnes a week. The current Boeing 737 has no room for freight. John, Manoora

Great to see more seat capacity, but no daily service. Maybe other airlines can fill the three days SIA not flying in. Also if luggage is not put on in Singapore could wait up to 24 hours or more as it happened to us.

Vick Kandiah, Facebook tion shortages would lead to a “drugs tug-of-war.” The big two in the industry are forced to reduce their prices to meet what village pharmacies prices are offering, however if we don’t have the village pharmacies then nobody is forcing them to reduce their prices.

Bob Katter, Member for Kennedy