Regional Extra 130324

Raising money for an important cause

By CHLOE JAENICKE

According to Inner Wheel secretary, Patti Stafford, one of the major points of research is leukaemia.

“They take the DNA out of the cord and with those cells they’ve done wonders with leukaemia,” she said.

The fundraiser in Wangaratta will feature Professor Graham Jenkin, who has been returning to Wangaratta for many years, and Dr Courtney McDonald who are both from the Monash and Ritchie Institute.

The researchers will discuss their research into leukaemia as well as new research on the collection of pre-term infants who are born at 27 weeks.

“The main thing is the presentation by the researchers, they’ll speak about how cord blood cells are collected and what they’re doing with them,” Ms Stafford said.

“There will be a PowerPoint presentation on how they store the cells and how they put them back into the babies, especially at the 27 weeks.

“Somehow the cells seem to help, it’s amazing.”

There will also be an opportunity to ask the researchers questions at the end of the presentation.

Studies into cord blood cells

also surrounds how they can help treat other conditions including auto immune diseases, cystic fibrosis, cerebral palsy, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer and many blood disorders.

“They’re doing wonders with ovarian cancer, they’re using the stem cells for that,” she said.

“When we went to Monash last year they did touch on how they’re using the stem cells but the funding for them is so hard and they’re looking for overseas manufactures to fund it.”

■ Continued page 6

IMPORTANT

◆

CAUSE: Dale King, Patti Stafford, Heather Ward and Shirley Wohlers are raising money for cord blood research.

VET CORNER

Introducing your new puppy and cat

INTRODUCING a new canine member to the family is a special and exciting time but it can be a little overwhelming for all concerned –especially if you already have a cat.

It’s important that you manage the introduction to your family carefully to minimise stress and help keep everyone safe.

Make sure that your new dog/puppy and cat are always supervised until you are sure everyone is comfortable and safe.

How well dogs and cats get along is influenced by a range of factors related to the owner, the cats, the dogs, the environment, and husbandry.

In some situations, dogs and cats may learn to get along.

In other cases, they may just not be compatible.

A few things to get you started when preparing include making sure the new puppy/dog is a good match for your existing cat, exposing your animal to a range of experiences in a positive way to help them prepare and cope with different situations, up to date health checks, preparing your home for both animals so they both have everything they need and preparing separate retreats.

Do this gradually and well ahead of time so that your cat can get used to the new household situation before the new dog/ puppy arrives.

It is important to introduce the new dog/ puppy and existing cat gradually step by step, carefully supervising and safely controlling pets’ interactions.

Observe their behaviour closely to see if you should proceed to the next step.

Only proceed when both animals are relaxed and calm in the presence of the other in each step.

with RSPCA - Knowledgebase

Do not leave your animals alone together until you are absolutely certain that they tolerate each other, the dog/puppy has been trained not to chase the cat and they are all safe.

If you are not sure, continue to supervise directly when you are at home or physically separate them when you are not at home.

The cat should always have somewhere safe to which they can retreat (an area the dog cannot get to, such as elevated platforms), even when you do feel comfortable about leaving the two unsupervised together.

If your attempts at introduction are not going well, or either of the animals seem stressed or agitated, seek professional help from your veterinarian and an appropriately trained veterinary behaviourist.

For more information visit the RSPCA Knowledgebase.

This Day in History, 1929

Mine closes

IT was a black day for the gold mining town of Eldorado.

The town’s biggest employer, Cock’s Pioneer mine, closed down and over 80 men were put out of work.

Low gold prices and low returns from the mine were to blame, it was said.

At the time the closure was announced, the barge which carried the high pressure water hoses to sluice out the earth for treatment, was working at the site of the old McEvoy mine, and many old mining relics were being unearthed.

It was not the end for Eldorado.

A few years later, gold prices doubled and Eldorado became, once again, a thriving mining community.

CHANGE is here. Autumn is in the air and while the relentless heat may feel like it’s still the middle of January, I can assure you that autumn has arrived in the fishing world.

The days may be very hot, but they’re shorter so there is less total heat and more cooler hours.

As a result the water is starting to cool, albeit very slowly.

Each year I talk about the “hot and cold” autumn Murray cod fishing in the Ovens River, and I can assure you that this typical autumn pattern has started.

Last Thursday I went fishing in Wangaratta and hooked 10 cod in under three hours,

with Rob Alexander WANGARATTA

casting lures from my kayak on the Ovens River. I landed six and lost four.

The fishing was truly incredible.

The very next night I took my daughter Holly fishing a few bends downstream. We fished for three and a half hours and caught one small trout cod.

The fishing was dreadfully slow in the same waterway just 24 hours later.

I am not surprised, I encounter this quite often each autumn.

I have some of my best cod fishing and some of my worst.

I can feel a slight drop in the water temperature.

It is lovely and refreshing, but not as warm as it was only a few weeks back.

With the gradual autumn cooling of the water comes a slow down in the yabbying.

Now is the time to catch a feed of yabbies before it is too late and they bury into the mud for the cooler months.

I have been struggling to catch many yabbies locally, but did have an amazing session in Riverina NSW last week.

If you like a feed of yabbies, get in now before it is too late.

◆ IT’S YABBY TIME: The yabbying is winding down now as it does this time every year. Now is the time to try and catch a feed before they bury into the mud for the cooler months.

Jalapeno avocado and cucumber crumpets

Ingredients

• 8 small cucumbers

• 1 large ripe avocado

• 1 tbs finely chopped pickled jalapeno

• 4 large free range eggs

LOCAL FLAVOURS

• 8 crumpets, toasted

• 200gm cottage cheese

• 1 tbsp black sesame seeds

• 1 lemon, rind finely grated

• Micro herbs, to serve, optional

Method

1. Combine the avocado and jalapeno together and season.

2. Slice eight cucumbers lengthways, each into four.

3. Half fill a medium saucepan with water and bring it to the boil over high heat, stir in 1 teaspoon of salt.

4. Pierce a small hole in the larger end of each egg with a sharp safety pin or needle.

5. Lower the cold eggs into the boiling water, leave for 30 seconds then stir to form a whirlpool in the pan.

6. Boil gently for 5 minutes.

7. Remove the eggs to a large bowl of iced water.

8. Stand for 3 minutes.

9. Drain and peel.

10. Spread 4 crumpets with the avocado mixture.

11. Spread the remaining four crumpets with cottage cheese.

12. Top all crumpets with sliced cucumbers, then half a soft boiled egg.

13. Sprinkle with lemon rind, sesame seeds, and micro herbs.

14. Place one avocado crumpet and one cottage cheese crumpet on each serving plate, season and serve.

◆ HEALTHY SNACK: This jalapeno avocado and cucumber crumpets recipe is perfect for a healthy breakfast or lunch.

Raising money for an important cause

■ From page 1

Ms Stafford said she hopes many can come along to support cord blood research and the fundraiser.

“People should come along to learn about Inner Wheel but also the wonderful recycling of the cord blood cells,” she said.

Alongside the presentation from the researchers, the Inner Wheel Wangaratta event will also include a light lunch, a raffle, sales of pins and other Inner Wheel merchandise, and other opportunities for people to donate towards cord blood research.

There will be a variety of prizes to be won in the raffle.

“There will be a variety of wines, chocolates and other goodies in

nice big baskets to be won,” Ms Stafford said.

This fundraiser is one of many across Australia that happen each year for cord blood research.

The money raised will go towards a $65,000 grant given to three scientists each year on behalf of Inner Wheel Australia.

Over the years, Inner Wheel Australia has provided 62 research grants and raised a total of $3,708,462 towards cord blood research.

The fundraiser will take place on Saturday, March 23 at the Old Town and Country Tavern at 11:30am and limited seats are available.

The seats are $35 per person with RSVP and payment required by March 14.

For more information and to pur-

chase tickets to the fundraiser, contact Ms Stafford on 0408 261 330 or Dale King on 0418 469 755.

Ms Stafford also encourages others to join Inner Wheel Wangaratta as they are a community minded group that fosters friendship.

“Inner Wheel’s objects are to promote true friendship, to encourage the ideals of personal service and to foster international understanding,” she said.

“We do a lot for the community including cook for Wangaratta Carevan, creating hospital and emergency packs and the cord blood research fundraiser is our national project.”

To learn more about how to join Inner Wheel Wangaratta, contact Ms Stafford.

◆ SUPPORTING RESEARCH: Dale King, Shirley Wohlers, Heather Ward and Patti Stafford encourage others to come along to the Inner Wheel Wangaratta fundraiser.

For terms 2, 3 and 4, 2024

St. Patrick’s

Current

to the

of and

Child Safe Standards Please submit an expression of interest

and current Curriculum Vitae

GRADUATE

Application Requirements:

with Simone Kerwin NORTH EAST MEDIA

◆ SPORTS FOCUS: There’s a sporting theme to this week’s giveaway books from Allen & Unwin, with Chloe Dalton’s ‘The A-Z of Who I Could Be’, and Alex Johnston’s ‘Footy Tail’ up for grabs.

Read all about it, sport

A CHANGE of sporting seasons is under way, and many young athletes are choosing or settling into their activities for the cooler months.

While they would initially appear to be poles apart (one physically passive and the other active), reading and sport are actually two pastimes which work beautifully together.

Sportspeople of all ages and abilities enjoy learning from the best in the business, through biographies and autobiographies focused on their idols.

Many of these even have special ‘young reader’ versions to cater for juniors, and these can be excellent motivational gifts for budding sports stars.

There are also some fantastic instructional guides available, which lend themselves not just to participants in various sports, but also to those in awe of the passion and drive it takes to compete at the highest level.

Making time for relaxation and mindfulness is increasingly part of life for elite athletes, and reading can be a perfect avenue for this, slotting perfectly between training and playing a favourite sport.

And of course, catching up on sports results and delving into analysis through newspapers and magazines is a great entrée to reading for those who might be a little reluctant.

This week, we’re giving away two books which focus on some of the best aspects of sport, including resilience-building, teamwork and commitment.

‘A Footy Tail’, written by NRL star Alex

Johnston and inspired by the South Sydney Rabbitohs, is a rhyming picture book about an underdog group of bunnies going up against teams of stronger animals.

They go from being competition underdogs to unlikely winners with a little help from some friends - especially a wise and confident crow.

“The main intention of ‘A Footy Tail’ is to show that if we welcome all people despite our differences, and work together, we can achieve great things,” Alex Johnston said.

“To do this, we may have to challenge old and outdated ideals to pioneer a better way forward as a society.”

Our other giveaway book is ‘The A-Z of Who I Could Be’, an inspirational and celebratory picture book showcasing 26 female and non-binary Australian athletes across 26 different sports.

Perfect for sporty kids, future sports stars, and fans of the ‘Rebel Girls’ books, it has been created by elite athlete and founder of The (Female) Athlete Project Chloe Dalton, a former WNBL basketballer who switched to rugby, before crossing codes again to play AFL.

From Ash Barty to Zali Steggall, it features plenty of inspiring stories for young sportspeople to draw on.

* To win a copy of ‘A Footy Tail’, by Alex Johnston, illustrated by Gregg Dreise (RRP $19.99), and ‘The A-Z of Who I Could Be’ by Chloe Dalton, illustrated by Kim Siew (RRP $22.99) from Allen & Unwin, email skerwin@nemedia.com.au and let us know why you would like to own them.

A healthy body is a fertile body: preconception care

INFERTILITY is diagnosed when a couple has been unable to conceive for 12 months or more, or if over 35 years of age, within a six month time frame.

There are many reasons that a couple may take longer to become pregnant with some common causes of infertility including blocked tubes, endometriosis, issues with sperm quality or a woman having issues with ovulation.

Often though, couples present at our clinic with a diagnosis of ‘unexplained infertility’.

This means that the above causes have been ruled out, but a couple is still having trouble with conception, despite regular unprotected intercourse.

There are many studies suggesting that our modern lifestyle with our poor diet, nutritional deficiencies, stress, lack of exercise, weight gain, illness, toxin exposure and increasing parental age is contributing to many of our fertility issues.

This is where natural medicine does its best work.

When presented with a case of unexplained infertility, our naturopaths start to investigate further, looking for nutritional deficiencies, a body system that is weak or compromised, determining if stress is interfering with the hormonal cascade, thus preventing or delaying ovulation.

Most women will put enormous efforts into cutting foods out of their diet, reducing caffeine and alcohol intake once they discover they are pregnant, but few of us are aware of the excellent fertility foods or stress management techniques or herbal medicines that can play a role in increasing our fertility as well as conceiving and maintaining a healthy pregnancy and birth outcome.

So, just as we plan and commit to a wedding or buying a new house, we can also put our resources and efforts into planning for having a baby.

Did you know that it takes up to four months to mature an egg prior to ovulation and also for sperm to develop and mature?

The good news is that during this three to four month window, there is so much a couple can do to improve ovulation, general health, nutritional quality of the egg and sperm, reduce stress and balance hormones.

Preconception care ensures that we pass on their best genetic material to our children and greatly increases a couple’s chances of conception, either naturally or in conjunction with IVF practices.

We aim to work with you to identify key issues with your fertility, track your ovulation and menstrual cycle, balance hormones and help you to build up your nutritional reserves through tailoring a diet and supplement plan.

◆ PRECONCEPTION CARE: Living a healthy lifestyle can help increase a couple’s chances of conceiving.

with Naturopath Sophie Lorback (BHSCI. NATUROPATHY)