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Time for a dedicated rural health strategy
World champ ready to defend local adaptive surfing title
The seven million people living in regional, rural and remote Australia need a national strategy and implementation plan to bridge the divide between their health and wellbeing and that of people in metropolitan areas. ‘For too long, Australia has been without an overarching strategy and implementation plan that is dedicated to bridging the health divide between the city and the bush,’ National Rural Health Alliance CEO David Butt said today. ‘There are a range of national strategies in place or being developed – and rightly so – for various population groups where we know there is disadvantage and a high burden of disease. ‘There is overwhelming evidence that shows that where you live impacts on your health and wellbeing – that the further you are away from a capital city, the worse your health, and your access to services, tends to become. ‘But we are now in a rare period in decades of rural health planning and reform where we do not have a current National Rural Health Strategy, and that needs to change.’ Mr Butt said the first National Rural Health Strategy was released in 1994. ‘There were various updates and revisions of the strategy over the ensuing
Crystal Cylinders
Photo pixabay.com
years, with the last being the National Strategic Framework for Rural and Remote Health, endorsed by health ministers in November 2011. ‘At the time, the Alliance called for a National Rural and Remote Health Plan to be developed to operationalise the goals set out in the Framework, but it never eventuated. So the Framework has not been actioned in a consistent, comprehensive way, there are no national reports on progress against the Framework, and no action has been taken to update it.’ Mr Butt said the Alliance recognised the effort being put into health workforce programs, including for rural and remote Australia. ‘But workforce is only one part of a more complex equation about what’s different and
JUNE 2017
First quarter June 1 22:42 Full moon June 9 23:09 Third quarter June 17 21:32 New moon June 24 14:30 Day of Sun Sun Moon Moon High tide, Low tide, month rise set rise set height (m) height (m) 1 T 0630 1656 1159 2340 0128,1.66; 1424,1.24 0814,0.46; 1955,0.64 2 F 0631 1656 1238 0227,1.55; 1533,1.30 0910,0.47; 2110,0.67
Astronomical data and tides
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F
0631 0632 0632 0633 0633 0634 0634 0634 0635 0635 0636 0636 0636 0637 0637 0637 0637 0638 0638 0638 0638 0638 0639 0639 0639 0639 0639 0639
1656 1656 1656 1656 1656 1656 1656 1656 1656 1656 1656 1656 1656 1656 1656 1656 1656 1657 1657 1657 1657 1658 1658 1658 1658 1659 1659 1659
1314 1348 1423 1458 1534 1613 1654 1738 1826 1916 2008 2102 2157 2253 2351 0050 0151 0256 0402 0510 0616 0719 0817 0909 0955 1036 1114
0036 0327,1.47; 1634,1.38 1000,0.46; 2220,0.67 0131 0424,1.42; 1726,1.47 1046,0.44; 2322,0.64 0224 0515,1.38; 1811,1.55 1127,0.41 0317 0601,1.36; 1850,1.62 0014,0.59; 1203,0.39 0409 0643,1.34; 1927,1.68 0100,0.54; 1237,0.37 0501 0721,1.32; 2002,1.72 0142,0.50; 1310,0.35 0552 0759,1.31; 2036,1.75 0221,0.47; 1342,0.35 0643 0836,1.29; 2112,1.75 0259,0.46; 1415,0.36 0732 0913,1.27; 2146,1.74 0336,0.45; 1448,0.38 0820 0951,1.24; 2223,1.72 0414,0.46; 1525,0.42 0905 1032,1.22; 2301,1.68 0453,0.47; 1603,0.46 0948 1116,1.20; 2342,1.63 0535,0.49; 1646,0.51 1029 1207,1.19 0620,0.50; 1735,0.57 1108 0027,1.58; 1305,1.21 0710,0.50; 1834,0.62 1146 0117,1.53; 1411,1.26 0802,0.48; 1945,0.65 1224 0215,1.49; 1519,1.35 0856,0.43; 2101,0.65 1302 0318,1.47; 1623,1.48 0948,0.38; 2216,0.60 1344 0421,1.45; 1722,1.62 1040,0.31; 2326,0.52 1130,0.24 1429 0523,1.44; 1817,1.76 1519 0623,1.43; 1911,1.89 0029,0.43; 1218,0.19 1614 0719,1.42; 2001,1.98 0128,0.34; 1307.0.16 1714 0814,1.40; 2052,2.02 0223,0.28; 1356,0.15 1818 0906,1.37; 2141,2.02 0317,0.25; 1445,0.17 1923 0958,1.35; 2230,1.97 0409,0.25; 1535,0.23 2027 1050,1.31; 2316,1.87 0500,0.33; 1626,0.32 2128 1144,1.28 0550,0.33; 1719,0.42 2227 0003,1.74; 1242,1.27 0640,0.38; 1815,0.53 2324 0051,1.60; 1345,1.27 0730,0.43; 1920,0.63
Times are Eastern Standard. Time lags: Ballina Boat Dock: 15 min; Byron Bay: nil; Brunswick River Hwy Bridge: high 30 min, low 1 hr; Mullumbimby: 1 hr 10 min; Billinudgel: 3 hr 55 min; Chinderah: high 1 hr 15 min, low 2 hr; Terranora Inlet: high 2 hr 10 min, low 2 hr 25 min; Murwillumbah: high 2 hr 30 min, low 2 hr 50 min. Tides in bold indicate high tide of 1.7m or more and low tide of 0.3m or less. Data courtesy of the Bureau of Meteorology.
North Coast news daily: www.echonetdaily.net.au
what needs to be done to fix the divide in health outcomes for rural Australia,’ he said. ‘What we have seen is that many of the issues specific to rural and remote health have been subsumed into the broader health agenda and swamped by the sheer size of metropolitan health and wellbeing. ‘With the minister for health, Greg Hunt, proposing a long-term health plan for Australia, the opportunity now exists to recognise the differences for rural and remote people and have a plan dedicated to improving access and reducing the social and economic burden of disease.’ Mr Butt said a rural health strategy and plan were not ends in themselves but rather provide the framework within which policies should be developed, planned, implemented and measured. ‘We don’t need a focus on high-level principles given there is already significant non-partisan and sector agreement: rather we need a plan within which specific on-the-ground, concrete programs and models of care should be designed and operated and on which existing and new health budget allocations should be made. ‘It needs to run in parallel with the government’s longterm health strategy, and with other national strategies – for example, on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing, mental health and suicide prevention, aged care and disability reform. ‘If all governments can commit to a practical, wellconsidered approach to achievable, sustainable solutions, we can help bridge the health divide, improve health and wellbeing, and unlock increased opportunities for participation and productivity by people in rural and remote Australia.’
A larger-than-ever field of talented surfers is expected to compete when the far north coast of New South Wales plays host to the second annual nudie Australian Adaptive Surfing Titles over June 24–25, 2017. Defending nudie champion and International Surfing Association (ISA) World Adaptive Surfing Champion Mark ‘Mono’ Stewart of Byron Bay spoke of the importance of the event to adaptive athletes in Australia. ‘I can’t wait for the upcoming nudie adaptive surfing titles in June,’ said Stewart. ‘Over the past twelve months awareness for adaptive surfing has grown phenomenally and hopefully has reached many new potential participants. ‘I’m really looking forward to helping the adaptive children and women at this year’s event too. Fingers crossed for some great fun and surf conditions.’ Results from competition on the Sunday of the event will serve as a springboard for selection to Team Australia for the International Surfing Association (ISA) World Adaptive Surfing Championships later in 2017. Last year the event was held at Cabarita, and this
Champion Mark ‘Mono’ Stewart will do some mentoring at the locally held adaptive event. Photo Reynolds/ISA
year’s location will depend on conditions on the day.
BK Classic Also on the calendar is the Byron Bay Boardriders presentation of the BK Classic and the Willsy X Groms to be held in Byron Bay over June 10–12. Previously known as the Easter Classic the event is a family affair featuring 11 divisions and more than 200 competitors aged 8–60 years. The event was renamed the BK Surf Classic in memory of Byron Bay Boardriders president, Ben King, who died suddenly in 2006. The contest started from the original event that Mick Cosmic Birch and Digger Morrow (RIP) organised. The Willsy X Groms is a
new addition for 2017 and will be keenly contested by the competitors who come from all over the east coast. Local legend Danny Wills and Byron Bay Boardriders want to ignite a fire in the grommet ranks with this new competition. Still ripping, and vicepresident of the Byron Bay Boardriders club, Danny is still giving back to the community. It’s his mission to nurture the up-and-coming talent and he wants to grow and promote the sport at grassroots level. Danny knows the future is with the youngsters and he wants to give back to a sport that was so kind to him. Be quick as entries are limited. For information see www.bksurfclassic.com.au.
Sails on the water at Fingal Head Tweed Valley Sailing Club members from Uki, Burringbar, Ocean Shores, Kingscliff, Fingal Head and even a few from north of the border are back from their break, keen racers again in the 7th Winter Series. In the first race of the season 13 boats hit the water with 27 crew to enjoy a warm day competing in light conditions of 8–13 knots of SE breeze. A few changes in crew and the newly introduced ‘Novice Skipper Comp’ with entrants Karen Vidler (Corsair), Kate Yeomans (Laser), Isaac Poulsen (Hobie 16), Tom Busbridge (NS14) and Taj Krasna (Corsair Minnow) made for some close and interesting racing. The closest finish was Tasar Hippocampus (Mike Mansted and Kynan Luescher) just one second ahead of Corsair Swell Lady (Monique Smith, Deb Flannery and Sienna Pullan). Bill Fenelon and brandnew crew Taj Krasna and Max Hennessy took first in
Karen Vidler (Fingal Head) enjoyed her first race at the helm of Corsair 104 Melita III. Photo supplied
the Corsairs and new skipper to watch, Karen Vidler, was not far behind on Corsair Melita III Another success was Corsair Keenas leading the Corsair fleet in the first lap after a training session in the break with Matt Andrews that must have paid off. The new Cat on the block (Nacra Self Inflicted, Tony and Anna Poulsen) looks like being a hot contender to knock
Hobie 16 Sledder off his line -honours run, but only time will tell. Great Laser sailing with John Hayward’s new longer main sheet paying off – his first monohull line-honours win got a big whoop from partner Lydia Salvagno on shore. Kate Yeomans skippering the club’s Laser in her first race kept the boys on their toes – one to watch for sure.
The Byron Shire Echo May 31, 2017 45