Te Ahi Ora coming in 2023

From Raglan Area School

Weare thrilled to announce that Te Ahi Ora will be coming to Waikato this year. They will deliver free performing arts lessons to Years 0-10 during school time, followed by free evening fire performances and lessons for your community.

Fire Performance is a new community activity that is rapidly spreading across the country. This exciting discipline engages the mind, connects with the body, and is incredibly fun and stimulating.

Te Ahi Ora has 5 main goals:

• Encourage students to participate in physically challenging and satisfying activities

• Boost self-confidence, encourage experimentation and foster creativity

• Provide opportunities for personal growth and development

• Build a sense of community through shared celebration and performance

• Counter the negative effects of excessive screen time and digital addiction

Lessons will be between Monday 27th February and Wednesday 1st March. Each evening between 6-8 pm there will be live performances on the school field at Raglan Area School.

WITH ANEXA VETS

Grass Seeds and our pets... How can

big problem?

Grass seeds have a sharp arrowhead that can penetrate the skin and travel throughout the body. The microscopic barbs on the seed’s tail prevent them from being able to exit through the original entry point.

Seeds can become lodged in any part of the body causing pain, inflammation, and infection and can migrate very quickly - even into vital organs.

What signs should I look for?

• Sudden onset lameness with a small, red, painful seeping wound between the toes or in armpits.

• Licking.

• Breathing difficulty, coughing or vomiting if the seed has been ingested.

• Urinary issues if the seed has migrated into the bladder via the urethra.

• Changes in behaviour or balance if the seed has travelled into the inner ear or brain.

How can I prevent a grass seed attack?

PREVENTION IS KEY: AVOID ATTACHMENT AND REMOVE BEFORE MIGRATION

• Put protective vests and shirts on animals, especially when they are in long grass.

• Grooming; the coat and especially the paws, armpits and ear fur should be kept short during the summer months if possible.

• Check your animal daily.

• Take your dog to the vet for sudden onset lameness, wounds, breathing or behavioural changes.

What should I do if I think my working dog has a barley grass seed wound?

If caught early, sometimes the seed can be pulled out with tweezers and light sedation. However, usually the seed has already migrated, and the area must be explored surgically to attempt to recover the seed and treat the wound. They can be extremely difficult to find in some instances; additional imaging, like an ultrasound exam, may be recommended to eliminate travel of the seed to vital organs.

Often patients will be sent home with a combination of pain control and antibiotics.

Lead Teresa has been part of the team for 6 years and has lived in Raglan with her husband and two daughters since 1996. She leads the Medical Centre Assistant (MCA) team whilst also working as a Kaiawhina two days a week. The Kaiawhina role is still a relatively new position which Teresa is enjoying immensely. She has been out and about meeting with many community support groups and has now a great network within the Raglan Community. She uses these networks, along with the clinic to help support our patient’s social needs, with a focus on the elderly and vulnerable. She is very passionate about rural & Maori health and particularly enjoys the clinics held at Mai Uenuku ki te Whenua Marae & Te Papatapu Marae.