PICKING up one year after the events of season two, Logie Award-winning high-octane outback medical drama RFDS has plenty of ground to cover.
Following both the professional endeavours and also personal developments for a Royal Flying Doctor Service team operating out of Broken Hill, the third season premiere gets off to a flying start when a bus carrying Pete Emerson (Stephen Peacocke) crashes and tips over on a remote highway, leaving several passengers in critical conditions and reuniting the nurse with the team he left behind.
Actor Emma Harvie joined the cast in 2023 as charismatic mental health nurse Chaya Batra, who attends the intense scene as a spare pair of hands.
“This crash is the epicentre of the drama, which so many storylines stem from,” she explains.
“When Chaya attends the bus crash, she is really affected by what happens. She assists Eliza (Emma Hamilton) with an operation on site, which has long-term implications for the patient.”
Triaging critical patients due to a lack of available resources, Dr Eliza Harrod is forced to make harrowing decisions in Wednesday’s premiere, the consequences of which reverberate throughout the season.
“Chaya becomes a support for [the patient’s] family and struggles as she deals with her own emotions and PTSD at the same time… ironically, the mental health nurse’s mental health starts to deteriorate,” Harvie says of Chaya’s response to the traumatic scenario.
“We know Chaya has a history of addiction and struggles with sobriety, so the aftermath of this crash, combined with an injury sustained at the Christmas fundraiser, could lead to everything blowing up in her face.”
RFDS retrieval scenes are almost as extreme for the actors – Harvie and her colleagues have a lot of medical lingo to land in emotionally charged moments.
“We get to do medical rehearsals with doctors and nurses on set where they walk us through what you do first, who would sit where, and who would hold what equipment,” Harvie explains.
“Chaya is the mental health nurse, so she doesn’t have as much of the jargon that Rob Collins, Stephen Peacocke or Emma Hamilton have to say, and for that I am so grateful. I will say some blood pressure stats, and then I’m good to go!
“I do take my hat off to those who have to say a giant monologue of medical terms, and numbers, on top of knowing their blocking for the cameras, and also needing to remember the medical instrument they need next and what drawer or bag to retrieve it from.”
RFDS Returns Wednesday, October 1, Seven, 7.30pm
TAKING FLIGHT
School daze: Evelyn (Toni Collette) leads the mysterious Tall Pines Academy in Wayward
STREAMING LEARNING CURVE
WAYWARD Streaming from Thursday, Netflix
Toni Collette is the acting equivalent of a Swiss Army knife: she can do just about anything. From her role as a woman struggling with dissociative identity disorder in underrated TV drama
United States of Tara to her searing portrayal of a grieving mother in the 2018 horror hit Hereditary, the chameleonic Aussie always delivers a memorable performance.
Collette is in fine form once again in this gripping eight-part thriller created by Canadian
stand-up comedian Mae Martin. She plays Evelyn Wade, the enigmatic leader of the mysterious Tall Pines Academy, a reform school for teenagers who need to “solve the problem of adolescence”.
Martin plays police officer Alex Dempsey, who investigates a series of troubling incidents at the institution with the help of students Abbie (Sydney Topliffe) and Leila (Alyvia Alyn Lind).
Alarmed by their concerning experiences, Dempsey identifies Wade as the potentially sinister source of escalating trouble in the surrounding community.
Martin is full of praise for Collette. “Toni is one of
TULSA KING
Streaming, Paramount+
Hollywood legend Sylvester Stallone (pictured) is back as ambitious gangster Dwight Manfredi in season three of this compelling crime drama. The criminal kingpin is expanding his empire into the distillery business, which brings new foes including Jeremiah Dunmire (Robert Patrick). Samuel L. Jackson also joins the cast ahead of his upcoming New Orleans-set spin-off, NOLA King
THE LOWDOWN Streaming, Disney+
Ethan Hawke (pictured) is perfectly cast as a citizen journalist whose obsession with the truth gets him into a whole lot of trouble in this quirky crime drama. Hawke plays Lee Raybon, a bookstore owner who is dedicated to uncovering corruption in the city of Tulsa, Oklahoma. When his latest exposé is followed by an apparent suicide, Raybon realises that he’s only just scratched the surface.
those few actors who really understands the joke and can be so dryly funny, but then also absolutely terrifying,” Martin says. “She really has presence.” Martin and co-showrunner Ryan Scott say they were inspired by films such as Girl, Interrupted, Get Out and Fargo for the genre-bending series. “We were saying it’s like if you took the kids from Booksmart and put them in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” Martin says.
With echoes of both Yellowjackets and Nine Perfect Strangers, it’s a mind-bending tale that’s scary, heartfelt and utterly addictive. – Travis Lewis
SLOW HORSES
Apple TV+
The incomparable Gary Oldman (pictured with Kristin Scott Thomas) returns as notorious spymaster Jackson Lamb in season five of this outstanding espionage drama. As this six-episode chapter kicks off, the team is suspicious of tech expert Roddy Ho (Christopher Chung) scoring himself a girlfriend. When a series of terrorist incidents take place across London, the spies race to work out if they’re connected.
THE HACK
Streaming, Stan
David Tennant (pictured) and Robert Carlyle headline this riveting factual drama about when the news became the news. The star-studded seven-parter charts one of the UK’s most shocking scandals, when it was revealed that the News of the World had hacked the voicemail accounts of hundreds of people. Penned by Adolescence writer Jack Thorne, it co-stars Toby Jones and Rose Leslie.
HOTEL COSTIERA
Streaming, Prime Video
Like Death in Paradise meets The White Lotus, this Italy-set crime drama follows Jesse Williams (pictured) as Daniel De Luca, a former marine who becomes a “fixer” for wealthy guests at a luxury hotel. As he goes about his job making problems go away for clients in picturesque Postiano, De Luca’s unique skill set sees him simultaneously drawn into the search for a missing girl.
Streaming,
FREE-TO-AIR
THE OFFICE AUSTRALIA 10, Thursday, 8.30pm
You’re probably most familiar with the UK or US editions of The Office, but the global hit franchise in fact has 13 international offshoots. Each benefits from local writing teams adding a distinct sense of humour and cultural knowledge to the adaptation. Tonight’s instalment of this Aussie incarnation is perhaps the best example of that approach, as Flinley Craddick’s Sydney office celebrates Melbourne Cup Day. Or rather, managing director Hannah (comedian Felicity Ward, pictured, in fine form) and visiting Brisbane colleague Danny (Rick Donald) cause chaos as they go against corporate policy to throw a raucous, boozy party in the workplace.
I, JACK WRIGHT ABC TV, Sunday, 9.10pm
When this greed-driven family melodrama premiered six weeks ago, we mentioned that making a chart to keep track of the extended Wright clan would be wise. At the time, it was tongue-in-cheek advice, but as events have unfolded, it’s become almost completely necessary. Now it’s time to get your notebooks out for tonight’s finale, as the challenge of patriarch Jack’s (Trevor Eve) will reaches the courts and everyone’s darkest secrets are dragged into the open. Nikki Amuka-Bird (pictured) delivers a powerhouse performance as Sally, Jack’s third wife and widow, who’s fighting on multiple fronts at once. As the trial unfolds, DCI Morgan (Harry Lloyd) inches closer to finding Jack’s killer, but has he got it right?
HEALTHY, WEALTHY & WISE
Seven, Saturday, 7pm
New host Chrissie Swan (pictured) could not be more excited to be bringing this lifestyle staple back to viewers after almost three decades off-air, gushing: “When I got the call, it took me all of five seconds to say yes!” An avid fan of the ’90sseries that launched the TV careers of Iain Hewitson, Tonia Todman and Ross Greenwood, Swan is leading a fresh team of presenters who will share their expertise in style, food, home, money, health and travel. The next-generation cast includes Real Housewives of Melbourne alum Chyka Keebaugh, content creator Ash Wicks and Vincent Yeow Lim. It’s a happy homecoming.
Pittosporum Screening
MURDER IN A SMALL TOWN Seven, Tuesday, 9pm
Exactly what it says on the tin, this Canadian series is set in a seemingly idyllic seaside town that has more than its fair share of murder mysteries to solve. Yes, it’s familiar territory, but you get a sense that this version is slightly self aware. Detective Karl Alberg (played by Rossif Sutherland, son of late acting great Donald) moved to Gibsons, British Columbia, for a quiet life, but that’s further away than ever. Season two saddles the sleuth with an increased caseload, and new complications in his relationship with Cassandra (Kristin Kreuk) as she runs for local council. There’s also trouble on the horizon in the form of Mayor Christie Holman (Marcia Gay Harden), who’s about to make Alberg an offer he can’t refuse.
ABC TV
The Business.
Planet America. 11.20 You Can’t Ask That. 11.50 Grand Designs. 12.35 Long Lost Family. 1.20 Rage. 3.25 Parkinson In Australia. 4.30 Gardening Aust. 5.30 7.30.
6.00 Kids’ Programs. 4.10 Andy’s Aquatic Adventures. 4.25 Super Monsters. 5.20 Mojo Swoptops. 5.45 Kangaroo Beach. 7.05 Piripenguins. 7.35 Ninjago: Dragons Rising. 8.00 Operation Ouch! 8.35 Fresh Off The Boat. 9.15 Wallace And Gromit: A Matter Of Loaf And Death. 9.45 Merlin. 10.30 Abbott Elementary. 11.15 Kids’ Programs.
6.00 Morning
6.00 WorldWatch. 9.00 Great Lighthouses Of Ireland. 10.00 North Sea Wonders: A Coastal Journey. 11.00 Overbooked. 12.00 WorldWatch. 2.00 Dateline. 2.30 Insight. 3.40 The Cook Up. 4.15 Walking Wartime England. 5.05 Jeopardy! 5.30 Letters And Numbers. 6.00 Mastermind Australia. 6.30 SBS World News. 7.30 The People Vs Robodebt. New. 8.30 Secrets Of Flying Scotsman. New. 9.30 Code Of Silence. 10.25 SBS World News Late. 10.55 COBRA. 11.40 Freezing Embrace. 1.25 The U.S. And The Holocaust. 3.35 J Schwanke’s Life In Bloom. 4.05 Curious Traveller. 4.35 Bamay. 5.00 WorldWatch.
6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 The Morning Show. 12.00 Seven’s National News At Noon. 1.10 Blankety Blank. 2.00 Bridge Of Lies. 3.00 The Chase. 4.00 Seven News At 4. 5.00 The Chase Australia. 6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Home And Away. 7.30 My Kitchen Rules. 9.15 Off The Grid With Colin And Manu. New. 10.15 House Of Wellness. Return. 11.15 Chicago Fire. 12.15 Imposters. 1.15
6.00 Morning Programs. 12.00 DW The Day. 12.30 Small Town Secrets. 1.15 Stay Tooned. 2.15 Tales From A Suitcase. 3.50 WorldWatch. 5.50 The Food That Built The World. 6.40 Jeopardy! 7.35 8 Out Of 10 Cats. 8.30 The Patient. New. 9.30 MOVIE: The Departed. (2006) 12.15 The Bloody Decade. 1.15 Bloodlands. 3.25 NHK World English News. 5.00 Al Jazeera. 6.00 Morning Programs. 8.00 Million Dollar Minute. 9.00 Animal Rescue. 9.30 NBC Today. 12.00 My Kitchen Rules. 1.30 Room For Improvement. 2.00 Weekender. 2.30 The Yorkshire Vet. 3.30 Harry’s Practice. 4.00 Animal Rescue. 4.30 Better Homes. 5.30 Escape To The Country. 6.30 Bargain Hunt. 7.30 Heartbeat. 8.45 Lewis. 10.45 Air Crash Inv. 11.45 Late Programs. 6.00 Danger Man. 7.00 Creflo. 7.30 Skippy. 8.00 TV Shop. 10.30 Pointless. 11.30 My Favorite Martian. 12.00 M*A*S*H. 2.00 Dad’s Army. 3.00 Antiques Roadshow. 3.30 MOVIE: Manuela. (1957) 5.30 The Travelling Auctioneers. 6.30 Antiques Roadshow. 7.30 As Time Goes By. 8.40 Midsomer
6.00 Morning Programs. 6.50 The Movie Show. 7.25 Malcolm. (1986) 9.00 Sissi: The Fateful Years. (1957) 11.05 The Man Who Wasn’t There. (2001) 1.10 India Sweets And Spices. (2021) 3.00 The Emperor’s Club. (2002) 5.00 Oink. (2022) 6.25 The Company. (2003) 8.30 Intolerable Cruelty. (2003) 10.25 Finding Your Feet. (2017) 12.25 Late Programs. 6.00 Morning Programs. 12.00 American Pickers. 1.00 Pawn Stars. 2.00 Outback Truckers. 4.00 Storage Wars: Barry’s Best Buys. 5.00 American Resto. 5.30 Storage Wars. 6.00 American Pickers. 7.00 Pawn Stars. 7.30 Highway Patrol. 8.30 The Force: BTL. 9.30 Caught On Dashcam. 10.30 World’s Wildest Police Videos. 11.30 Late Programs.
6.00 Morning Programs. 2.00 Golden Girls. 2.30 Nanny. 3.30 Seinfeld. 4.30 Addams Family. 5.00 Bewitched. 5.30 Jeannie. 6.00 Golden Girls. 6.30 Nanny. 7.30 Seinfeld. 8.30 MOVIE: The Edge Of Seventeen. (2016) 10.35 Seinfeld. 11.35 Veronica Mars. 12.35 Pretty Little Liars. 1.35 Supernatural. 3.30 Nanny. 4.00 Barbie It Takes Two. 4.30 Late Programs.
4.00 Everyday Gourmet. 4.30 King Of Queens. 5.00 Becker. 5.30 Frasier. 6.30 Neighbours. 7.00 Friends. 8.00 Big Bang. 10.00 Becker. 10.30 Frasier. 11.30 Late Programs.
(2)
7.35 Ninjago: Dragons Rising. 8.00 Operation Ouch! 8.35 Secrets Of The Zoo. 9.20 Teenage Boss: Next Level. 9.45 The Mysterious Benedict Society. 10.35 Merlin. 11.20 Kids’ Programs.
6.00 The Company. (2003) 8.10 Finding Your Feet. (2017) 10.15 The Good Lie. (2014) 12.15 Unruly. (2022) 2.40 Sunflower. (1970) 4.40 Sissi: The Fateful Years. (1957) 6.45 Clockwatchers. (1997) 8.30 The Big
And The Holocaust. 3.45 J Schwanke’s Life In Bloom. 5.00 WorldWatch. 6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 The Morning Show. 12.00 Seven’s National News At Noon. 1.10 Blankety Blank. 2.00 Bridge
Harry’s Practice. 11.30 GetOn Extra. 12.00 Horse Racing. Yulong Golden Rose Day and Sandown Stakes Day. 5.00 World’s Most Scenic Railway Journeys. 6.00 Dog Patrol. 6.30 The Yorkshire Vet. 8.30 Escape To The Country. 11.30 The Yorkshire Vet. 12.30 Late Programs.
6.00 Bicycle Thief. (1948) 7.15 A Hard Day’s Night. (1964) 8.50 Sunflower. (1970) 10.50 White Tiger. (2012) 12.50 Nostalgia. (2022) 2.55 Clockwatchers. (1997) 4.40 Whina. (2022) 6.40 Bring It On. (2000) 8.30 Moonstruck. (1987) 10.25 The Book Of Delights. (2020) 12.20 True Grit. (2010) 2.25 Girl America. (2024) 4.25 Hive. (2021) 6.00 Morning Programs. 2.00 Rides Down Under: Workshop Wars. 3.00
News. 12.30 Landline. 1.30 Gardening Aust. 2.30 David Attenborough’s Kingdom Of Plants. 3.25 Grand Designs NZ. 4.10 Bill Bailey’s Wild West Australia. 5.00 Antiques Roadshow. 6.00 Pilgrimage: The Road Through The Alps. Return. 7.00 News. 7.30 The Assembly. 8.15 Mystery Road: Origin. 9.10 I, Jack Wright. Final. 10.00 Mother And Son. 10.25 MOVIE: Embrace. (2016) 11.55 Brush With Fame. 12.25 Rage. 3.00 Ask The Doctor. 3.30 The Art Of... 4.00 Gardening Aust. 5.00 Insiders.
6.00 WorldWatch. 9.00 Craig & Bruno’s Great British Road Trips. 10.00 Rediscover Victoria. 11.00 Travel Quest. 12.00 WorldWatch. 12.30 PBS Washington Week. 1.00 Motor Racing. Hi-Tec Oils Super Series. 5.05 Going Places. 5.35 World War 2: The End. 6.30 News. 7.30 Naachtun: The Forgotten Mayan City. 8.35 The Lost Empire Of Palmyra. 10.20 Bombing Brighton: The Plot To Kill Thatcher. 11.45 Yellow House Afghanistan. 1.35 Women Who Rock. 2.35 Curious Traveller. 4.10 J Schwanke’s Life In Bloom. 4.40 Bamay. 5.00 WorldWatch. 5.50 Soccer. FIFA Under 20 World Cup. Group Stage. Italy v Aust. 6.00 Better Homes. 7.00 Weekend Sunrise. 10.00 Morning Show. 12.00 Behind Behani. 1.00 Football. AFL Women’s. St Kilda v Pt Adel. 3.00 Football. AFL Women’s. Brisbane v Richmond. 5.00 News. 5.30 Border Security. 6.00 Seven News. 7.00 The Voice. 8.40 7NEWS Spotlight. 9.40 7NEWS: The Balibo
New. 10.35 Hudson & Rex. Return. 12.15 Forbidden History. 1.10 Late Programs. 6.00 Morning Programs. 12.00 Escape To The Country. 2.00 The Great Australian Doorstep. 2.30 Escape To The Country. 3.30 World’s Most Scenic Railway Journeys. 4.30 Escape To The Country. 7.30 Mr Bates Vs The Post Office. 8.30 Vera. 10.30 Flesh And Blood. 11.30 Late Programs.
6.00 The Movie Show. 6.35 Whina. (2022) 8.35 Bring It On. (2000) 10.25 True Grit. (2010) 12.30 The Code Of Silence. (2022) 2.45 A Hard Day’s Night. (1964) 4.25 Moonstruck. (1987) 6.20 Becoming Jane. (2007) 8.30 Shakespeare In Love. (1998) 10.50 Best Sellers. (2021) 12.45 Late Programs. 6.00 Morning Programs. 2.00 Red’s Fishing Adventures. 2.30 Al McGlashan’s Fish’n
6.00 Morning Programs. 10.30 Edgar Wallace Mysteries. 11.50 The Baron. 12.50 MOVIE: The Brain Machine. (1955) 2.30 MOVIE: Scott Of The Antarctic. (1948) 4.45 MOVIE: The Train. (1964) 7.30 Rugby League. NRL Women’s Premiership. First semi-final. 9.45 MOVIE: Swordfish. (2001) 11.45 Late Programs.
6.00 Morning Programs. 12.30 NRLW Wrap. 1.15 Rugby League. NRL Women’s Premiership. Second semi-final. 3.00 Dad’s Army. 4.00 MOVIE: How To Murder Your Wife. (1965) 6.30 M*A*S*H. 8.30 MOVIE: The Shawshank Redemption. (1994) 11.20 Major Crimes. 12.20 Late Programs.
SBS
10.10 Late Programs.
6.00 Morning Programs. 2.00 Weekender. 2.30 Great Rail Restorations. 3.30 Harry’s Practice. 4.00 Animal Rescue. 4.30 Better Homes. 5.30 Escape To The Country. 6.30 Bargain Hunt. 7.30 Doc Martin. 8.30 Endeavour. 10.30 Air Crash Inv: Accident Files. 11.30 Late Programs.
6.00 Morning Programs. 9.10 Whina. (2022) 11.10 Best Sellers. (2021) 1.05 An Almost Perfect Town. (2016) 2.55 The Movie Show. 3.25 The World’s Fastest Indian. (2005) 5.45 Widows’ Peak. (1994) 7.40 The Tracker. (2002) 9.30 Open The Wall. (2014) 11.15 In A Land That No Longer Exists. (2022) 1.10 Late Programs. 6.00 Morning Programs. 2.30 Watersport. Offshore Superboats. 3.30 Mountain Men. 4.30 American Resto. 5.00 Storage Wars. 5.30 American Pickers. 6.30 Pawn Stars. 7.30 Outback Crystal Hunters. Return. 8.30 Aussie Gold Hunters. Return. 9.30 Aussie Salvage Squad. 10.30 Mighty Ships. 11.30 Late Programs.
6.00 Morning Programs. 11.30 My Favorite Martian. 12.00 M*A*S*H. 2.00 Dad’s Army. 3.00 Antiques Roadshow. 3.30 MOVIE: The Iron Maiden. (1963) 5.30 The Travelling Auctioneers. 6.30 Antiques Roadshow. 7.30 Death In Paradise. 8.40 Shakespeare And Hathaway. 10.40 Whitstable Pearl. 11.40 Late Programs.
6.00
Lost Family. 5.00 Antiques Roadshow. 6.00 Spicks And Specks. 6.30 Hard Quiz. 7.00 News. 7.30 7.30. 8.00 Foreign Correspondent. Final. 8.40 Take 5 With Zan Rowe. 9.10 ABBA: Against The Odds. 10.40 Media Watch. 11.00 News. 11.15 The Business. 11.30 Four Corners. 12.20 Labor In Power. 1.20 Grand Designs. 2.10 Long Lost Family. 2.55 Rage. 3.40 Parkinson In Australia. 4.30 Gardening Aust. 5.30 7.30.
6.00 WorldWatch. 9.00 Urban Conversion. 10.00 The Lost World Of Joseph Banks. 11.00 Japanese Islands From Above. 12.00 WorldWatch. 2.00 Ancient Egypt: Chronicles Of An Empire. 3.00 Going Places. 3.40 The Cook Up. 4.15 Walking Wartime England. 5.05 Jeopardy! 5.30 Letters And Numbers. 6.00 Mastermind Aust. 6.30 News. 7.30 Great British Railway Journeys. 8.30 Insight. 9.30 Dateline. 10.00 SBS News. 10.30 The Point. 11.30 Spies Of Terror. New. 1.40 Billy Connolly: Great American Trail. 2.30 Curious Traveller. 3.30 J Schwanke’s Life In Bloom. 4.35 Bamay. 5.00 WorldWatch. 6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 The Morning Show. 12.00 Seven’s National News At Noon. 1.10 Blankety Blank. 2.00 Bridge Of Lies. 3.00 The Chase. 4.00 Seven News At 4. 5.00 The Chase Australia. 6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Home And Away. 7.30 My Kitchen Rules. 9.00 Murder In A Small Town. Return. 10.00 The Agenda Setters. 11.00 Grosse Pointe Garden Society. 12.00
Morning Programs. 2.20 Bamay. 2.50 The Mega-Brands That Built The World. 3.45 WorldWatch. 5.45 The Food That Built The World. 6.35 Jeopardy! 7.30 8 Out Of 10 Cats. 8.30 Alone. 9.40 Hoarders. 11.20 Calipari: Razor’s Edge. 12.10 Bloodlands. 1.15 Dark Side Of The 2000s. 3.05 Late Programs.
6.00 The World’s Fastest Indian.
6.00 Morning Programs. 1.30 Room For Improvement. 2.00 Creek To Coast. 2.30 Great Rail Restorations. 3.30 Harry’s Practice. 4.00 Animal Rescue. 4.30 Better Homes. 5.30 Escape To The Country. 6.30 Bargain Hunt. 7.30 Call The Midwife. 8.45 Foyle’s War. 10.45 The Yorkshire Vet. 11.45 Late Programs.
6.00 Morning Programs. 12.00 M*A*S*H. 2.00 World’s Greatest Myths And Mysteries. 3.00 Antiques Roadshow. 3.30 MOVIE: Carry On Regardless. (1961) 5.30 The Travelling Auctioneers. 6.30 Antiques Roadshow. 7.30 New Tricks. 8.40 Agatha Raisin. 10.40 Major Crimes. 11.40 Late Programs.
WHAT’S THAT ITCH:
Allergies are one of the main reasons behind an itchy dog and are especially pertinent during the spring.
Health
GUT FOCUS: Persistent bloating can be an indication of imbalanced gut health. Fortunately, there are a number of steps you can take to help improve symptoms.
PHOTO: CHAjAMP/ Shutterstock.com
ITCHY DOG? IT MAY BE ALLERGIES
By DR EMILY FOSS WANGARATTA VETERINARY CLINIC
An itchy dog is one of the most common reasons for an owner to take their pet to the vet.
There are many things that can cause a dog to itch.
The majority of cases are due to parasites on the skin, infections or an allergy.
Dogs can be allergic to many different things which can cause them to itch.
This includes parasite bites (like fleas), substances in the environment (e.g. dust, pollens, moulds) or even something in their diet.
What a dog is allergic too is most likely due to their genetics.
This means that some dogs have an immune system which behaves differently to other dogs.
Atopic dermatitis is a chronic itchy skin disease that occurs when the immune system has an exaggerated response to allergens in the environment.
It is a relatively common skin condition, and in some populations, up to 15 per cent of dogs may be affected.
A diagnosis is made once other more common causes of itchiness have been ruled out (such as parasites or skin infections), as well as based on your dogs history, age and breed.
Like hayfever in humans, unfortunately, atopic dermatitis is not curable and the goal of treatment is to manage the symptoms.
There are a number of different management options, including diet changes, anti-itch medications, skin barrier treatments, immunotherapy and management of environmental allergens.
None of these treatments are perfect and all have their advantages and disadvantages.
However, it is possible with some intervention to make your dog comfortable so they can live a happy, healthy life.
Talk to your local vet if you are worried about your itchy dog.
The ultimate guide for tourists and locals OUT NOW
Bloating a red flag for gut health
By CHRISTOS MILIANKOS
Have you ever eaten something light and healthy - like a fresh salad - and within the hour, feel like you’ve swallowed a balloon?
Your jeans suddenly feel too tight, and you’re wondering how you went from satisfied to six months pregnant (when you’re definitely not)?
If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone.
But here’s the truth: bloating isn’t “just part of life” - it’s your gut’s way of telling you something is out of balance.
There are several common reasons behind persistent bloating:
• Low stomach acid: When food lingers too long in your stomach, it begins to ferment; that’s never a recipe for good digestion.
• Small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO): Too much bacteria in the wrong part of your gut produces excess gas, bloating, and discomfort.
• Mineral imbalances: If your sodium-topotassium ratio is off, digestion slows and
your body retains water like a sponge. Thankfully, there are simple steps you can take to support better digestion:
• Avoid drinking large amounts of water during meals, as this can dilute stomach acid.
• Chew thoroughly - your stomach isn’t designed to act like a blender.
• Try a splash of lemon water or a small amount of apple cider vinegar before meals to naturally support stomach acid levels.
If bloating is a daily battle for you, it’s worth paying attention.
Your gut microbiome could be waving a red flag.
Persistent bloating is a signal that your body needs care, attention, and sometimes, professional support.
By listening to your body and making small changes, you can move toward a calmer, healthier digestion - and a happier, more comfortable you.
To get on top of your bloating or to arrange a gut microbiome test, call us at the NE Naturopathic Group on (03) 5798 3343 to arrange an appointment.
NORTH EAST NATUROPATHIC GROUP
Fishing SEASON STILL SLOW
By ROBBIE ALEXANDER, WANGARATTA
Over the last week I have fished the Ovens and King rivers with bait, hoping to catch a yellowbelly.
I have caught a lot of carp, and two small Murray cod which were promptly released.
Due to the closed Murray cod season I have only been fishing with bait, and that bait has been worms.
I have been angling from both the bank, and from my boat.
Worms are an excellent bait that will catch every species of fish in the river, making them the perfect all-rounder.
I have been surprised by the number of carp that I have caught, as there seems to be more carp than usual in the river and some of them are enormous.
I know that there are yellowbelly in the rivers around Wangaratta, and pretty soon they too will start to bite as things warm up.
Yellowbelly have been biting at Lake Hume.
Andrew Colston from @andrew_ colston on Instagram has been catching quite a few lovely yellowbelly up there with his dad Neil and son Tommy.
I have seen other photos of yellowbelly caught at Lake Hume too, as well as Lake Eildon.
Both lakes are just starting to fire. It’s still early and the fishing may be hit and miss, but the yellowbelly have started to bite in both lakes and the fishing is only going to get better as things warm up.
The region’s trout fishing remains about the same as last week.
I have been out a couple of times and caught a few small trout in tributaries of the Ovens and King rivers.
I did find a few larger trout last week though, bigger than anything that I have caught for a couple of years which is very encouraging.
I have been catching my trout on a black and gold Strike Tiger Nymph soft plastic and a dark coloured bladed spinner.
These two lures have been working best for me.
HANDY: Kincrome’s TorqueMaster® 13 piece screwdriver set is just what you need.
Tool Talk Screwdriver set has it all
By RUSSELL FERGUSON, North East Fasteners
If you’re looking for a screwdriver set that travels easily and is ever reliable, Kincrome’s TorqueMaster ® 13 piece screwdriver set is just what you need.
TorqueMaster ® represents decades of fastening innovation.
Incorporating a Tri-Lobe design that dovetails with the hand, and Gel-Grip for increased torque and turning power,
as well as precision machined S3 SVCM Alloy Steel blades for durability, TorqueMaster ® incorporates professional grade features such as colour coding and drive indicators that are visible from all angles and make it incredibly easy to find the screwdriver that you need, whether it’s in your tool box or tool belt.
Pick up your Kincrome’s TorqueMaster ® 13 piece screwdriver set from North East Fasteners in Wangaratta and brose through our huge variety of Kincrome products.
FUN TO CATCH: A big, fat Mud Marlin (carp) caught on worms in the Ovens River this week.
