Friday, 4 June, 2021
MACKAY LOCAL NEWS •
Circulating in the Mackay, Isaac and Whitsunday Regional Council areas
www.mackaylocalnews.com.au Issue 17 • $2.50
Friday, 4 June, 2021
CHECK OUT REAL ESTATE
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FRIDAY, JUNE 4, 2021
FISHING LIFT-OUT
Artists impress ion
Riverside oppo rtunity
NEW REEL FISHING
MACKAY COLUMN - P34&35
INSIDE ...
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awaits PAGE 14
OUR LOCAL
AWARD WINNING STRIP - P12
WIN
FAMILY | DOUBLE PASSES TO THE
SHOW
- P7
Health bosses’ COVID alarm By JOHN BELL
MACKAY health managers have expressed alarm that only five to 10 percent of nursing home and aged care workers have been immunised again the COVID-19. The Executive Manager of Clinical and Infectious Disease Prevention at the Good Shepherd Lodge, Sister Annie Thompson said that when vaccines arrived at a major Mackay’s nursing homes, there were a few vaccines left over. These were then used by nurses and carers after residents had been immunised. Sister Thompson’s concerns come at a time when almost every person in Victoria has been locked-down in their homes and there is panic that a Melbourne nursing home aged care worker was found to be spreading the COVID-19 virus. “Only 40 of my 400 aged care staff have been vaccinated against COVID-19 and I am very worried that there are no plans at all to vaccinate North Queensland’s aged care nursing and caring workforces,” she said. “However North Queensland’s Health Department announced making the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccinse available to its own Mackay’s Base Hospital staff. “It is compulsory for all my aged care nursing and other care staff to get a flu vaccine and yet state and federal government health officials appear to have absolutely no plans to immunise our North Queensland’s frontline health care workforce.” CONTINUED PAGE TWO
Local IVF miracle brings joy SUSAN and Josh Cannan have witnessed a miracle which has brought so much joy into their lives. Seven months ago, their happy and healthy IVF baby girl Maytira was born three weeks early. Susan is an immensely proud and happy Mum. “When I received the phone saying that it was a positive result I burst into tears and my husband thought it was negative, as I couldn’t find the words to tell him that we were pregnant,” she smiled. “She was worth the wait as we had been trying for so long that it was just like a miracle as she has brought so much joy into our lives. “My son Sydney had been asking for a sibling for a while and we were estatic that something that we have wanted to extend our family was finally happening. “To be able to see our son as a big brother is an amazing feeling which brings us lots of joy. STORY CONTINUED ON PAGE THREE Pictured right are Susan and Josh Cannan with son Sydney and daughter Maytira For all your latest up-to-date local news, head to our FREE website: Mackaylocalnews.com.au
FARMERS AND GRAZIERS PAGES - P25, 26, 27