Connect with us
Byron Bay News and Weather copy
Mt Warning News and Weather copy
Kyogle News
Grafton News and Events copy
Byron Bay News and Weather copy
Mt Warning News and Weather copy
Kyogle News
Grafton News and Events copy
previous arrow
next arrow

Local News

NSW lowers the recommended breast screening age for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women

Published

on

By

Advertisements
MadeComfy

NSW lowers the recommended breast screening age for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women

 

By Liam Jennings

The NSW Government is working to increase breast screening participation among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women to improve their breast cancer outcomes. In a groundbreaking initiative, the Putuwa project, led by Cancer Institute NSW, has lowered the starting age for breast screening from 50 to 40 years for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, while also enhancing the cultural safety of the BreastScreen NSW service.

Since the project’s launch in 2023, participation rates among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in NSW aged 40 to 49 have more than doubled (7.8% to 16.7%). The Putuwa project has been rolled out across all BreastScreen NSW sites to address disparities in breast cancer outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, who are diagnosed on average four years earlier and tend to have more advanced cancer at diagnosis, leading to poorer survival rates compared to the broader female population.

The project promotes culturally safe screening by working closely with the Aboriginal health workforce, developing culturally sensitive materials like posters and fact sheets, and incorporating Aboriginal artwork.

BreastScreen NSW established the Putuwa project with support from the Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council of NSW, in collaboration with Screening and Assessment Services, and key Aboriginal stakeholders and agencies.

BreastScreen NSW is a free service, with female staff performing the screening, which takes less than 20 minutes. No referral from a doctor is required.

BreastScreen NSW recommends:

  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women have a mammogram every two years from age 40.
  • Non-Aboriginal women have a mammogram every two years from age 50. Breast screening is available from the age of 40.
  • Anyone with breast symptoms should contact their GP or health worker without delay.
  • Any woman with a family history of breast cancer should discuss their needs with their GP.

BreastScreen NSW aims to provide a safe place of care. To book in a breast screen, call 13 20 50 or book online.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Health Ryan Park:

“NSW is proud to lead the way in efforts to reduce the disparity in cancer outcomes between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians.”

“Breast cancer is the most common cancer in Aboriginal women in NSW but the good news is that breast cancer screening can detect cancers before they can be seen or felt, and when found early, almost all breast cancers can be successfully treated.”

“Early detection is key to saving lives and reducing the impact of breast cancer in the Aboriginal community.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty David Harris:

“The NSW Government’s commitment to achieving its Closing the Gap priorities emphasises the need to improve health outcomes for Aboriginal people.

“This reduction in the breast screening age will ensure Aboriginal women will be able to access essential healthcare services earlier to have a better chance of achieving optimal health outcomes.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Women Jodie Harrison:

“Putting off something like a mammogram can seem all too easy in our busy lives.

“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women are traditionally under-represented in the breast screening program, so as part of the Putuwa project we’re lowering the screening age and delivering it in a culturally safe way.

“I encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women over 40 to book in for a free potentially life-saving breast screen today.

“Improving the screening rates of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women is part of our broader effort to lift their overall health and wellbeing.”

Quotes attributable to NSW Chief Cancer Officer and CEO Cancer Institute NSW, Professor Tracey O’Brien AM

“We know that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women experience poorer survival rates from breast cancer, are diagnosed with more advanced cancers and are underrepresented in routine breast screening.”

“Addressing the unacceptable disparity in breast cancer outcomes in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women is a priority and the Putuwa project is one of the ways Cancer Institute NSW is partnering with Aboriginal communities to create meaningful change.”

“We encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women to stay healthy for yourself and your family by having a regular breast screen.”

Quotes attributable to Gomeroi Elder Jacqui Khan

“I went for my breast screen at the breast screen service, and I was called back because they’d found something and they wanted to do more tests. It’s just hearing that word cancer, it puts the wind up you and to find out that it was already travelling and invasive, that was really scary for me.”

“I would encourage my Aboriginal women to go and have a breast screen done so we can stay strong, black and deadly for our Jargens and survive another 60,000 years.”

“The breast screen van travels around to all communities in NSW so the women can access the van for an appointment and go and have their breast screen done, there’s really no excuse, it’s free and it only takes 20 minutes.”

Quotes attributable to Kristie O’Neill

“I was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 41, resulting in a double mastectomy due to the size of the mass found.  If I had found the cancer a year earlier, I may still have my breasts.”

“In my experience, my forty-year-old friends are in the peak of their careers or their parenting or trying to do both really well. Our health often comes last so providing women with an opportunity to proactively screen for breast cancer is a wonderful step in the right direction.”

Advertisements
Tenterfield-The Bowlo
Continue Reading

Local Elections

Kylie Maunder – Richmond Valley meet your candidates

Published

on

By

NSW-Northern-Rivers-Breaking-News
Advertisements
MadeComfy

Kylie Maunder Richmond Valley meet your candidates

By Tim Howard

The Northern Rivers Times has asked all of the candidates for the September 14 local government elections to introduce themselves to voters identify the issues they want to address and policies they would pursue if elected.

A number of candidates did not meet the deadline for publication but are welcome to send in copy for coming editions of The Northern Rivers Times before the election date.

Kylie Maunder

Yamandhu marang, my name is Kylie Maunder and I’m a proud Wiradjuri woman, blessed to be living breathing and learning on Bundjalung country for most of my life.

I grew up in a small village outside of Casino and have experienced first-hand the lack of supports and infrastructure for regional communities.

My background has been in leadership in community services, disability, family support, aboriginal engagement, reconciliation and aboriginal leadership.

My goals and passions are educating and inspiring the broader community through culture, closing the gap on education, health, and support healing through connection.

 

For more 2024 Local Elections News, click here.

Advertisements
Tenterfield-The Bowlo
Continue Reading

Gardening

Get Your Garden Ready for Warmer Weather

Published

on

By

Advertisements
MadeComfy

Get Your Garden Ready for Warmer Weather

 

By Liam Jennings

As the days grow longer and the temperatures rise, gardeners everywhere feel the urge to head outside and prepare their gardens for the warmer months. Spring is the perfect time to give your outdoor space a fresh start, whether you’re nurturing a vegetable patch, tending to a flower garden, or simply beautifying your yard. Preparing your garden now ensures that it will thrive in the coming season and helps set the stage for a bountiful summer.

Here are some essential tips for getting your garden ready for the warmer weather.

Clean Up and Clear Out

Before you can plant new seeds or tend to your perennials, you need to clear away the remnants of winter. Start by removing any dead plants, weeds, and debris that have accumulated over the colder months. Dead leaves, fallen branches, and spent annuals can harbor pests and diseases, so it’s important to clear them out to create a clean, healthy environment for new growth.

Once the garden beds are clear, take a moment to prune your perennials and shrubs. Deadheading spent blooms and cutting back dead stems encourages healthier growth and prevents the plant from wasting energy. Pruning is especially important for rose bushes, hydrangeas, and other flowering plants that benefit from a good trim before the growing season begins.

Revitalise the Soil

After a season of dormancy, your garden’s soil needs attention. The cold, wet conditions of winter can leave soil compacted and depleted of nutrients. Start by loosening the soil in your garden beds with a fork or spade, which helps improve aeration and drainage. You might also want to add organic matter like compost, leaf mould, or well-rotted manure to improve soil structure and replenish nutrients.

Testing your soil’s pH can also be a good idea, as certain plants thrive in more acidic or alkaline conditions. If your soil is too acidic, adding lime can help balance it, while sulphur can lower the pH if it’s too alkaline.

Fertilise Early for a Strong Start

Fertilising in spring gives your plants the nutrients they need to grow vigorously throughout the warmer months. Different plants have varying nutritional needs, so consider using a slow-release fertiliser for general garden use, or choose a specific fertiliser designed for the types of plants you’re growing.

Organic fertilisers like compost or seaweed extracts are a great way to feed your plants while also improving the soil’s health. For flower gardens, you can add a balanced fertiliser that provides nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium to encourage lush foliage and blooms. For vegetable gardens, opt for a fertiliser rich in nitrogen, which promotes leaf and stem growth, while phosphorus helps with root and fruit development.

Planting and Sowing

Spring is the ideal time to plant, whether you’re starting from seeds or transplanting seedlings. Hardy annuals and cool-weather vegetables like peas, spinach, and lettuce can be planted early in the season, while more tender plants like tomatoes and peppers should wait until the soil warms up.

For flower gardens, now is the perfect time to plant summer bulbs such as dahlias, gladiolus, and lilies. These plants will produce stunning blooms as the season progresses, adding vibrant colour and texture to your garden. Be mindful of the growing conditions of each plant and ensure that they are placed in the right spot—sun-loving plants should go in sunny locations, while shade-tolerant varieties should be placed in more sheltered areas.

If you’ve been dreaming of a herb garden, spring is the perfect time to start planting your favourite herbs. Parsley, basil, rosemary, and thyme thrive in warm weather and will be ready to harvest in the summer months.

Mulching Matters

Mulching is one of the best ways to protect your garden from the heat of the summer while helping your plants thrive. Adding a layer of organic mulch around your plants helps retain moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature.

Choose a mulch that suits your garden’s needs—compost, wood chips, straw, or bark mulch are all excellent choices. Apply a 5-7cm layer of mulch around your plants, being careful not to pile it too close to the stems or trunks, as this can cause rot.

Mulching also helps improve the soil over time as it breaks down, adding valuable organic matter back into your garden beds.

Irrigation Preparation

Warmer weather means your plants will need more water to stay hydrated. Spring is the perfect time to check your irrigation system or hose setup to ensure it’s working efficiently. Make sure your hoses are free from leaks and consider setting up a drip irrigation system to deliver water directly to the roots of your plants, where it’s needed most.

Watering early in the morning is best during warmer months as it allows the plants to absorb moisture before the heat of the day evaporates it. Aim for deep, infrequent watering to encourage deeper root growth.

Pest and Disease Control

With warmer weather comes an increase in pests and diseases. Keep an eye out for common garden pests like aphids, slugs, and snails, which can cause damage to tender new shoots. Consider using organic pest control methods, such as introducing beneficial insects like ladybugs, using neem oil, or setting up physical barriers like copper tape to deter slugs.

Inspect your plants regularly for signs of disease such as powdery mildew, rust, or leaf spot. Early detection is key to preventing the spread of disease, and removing affected foliage can help keep the problem under control.

Plan for Growth

As your garden springs to life, don’t forget to plan for future growth. Staking tall plants early will prevent them from flopping over as they grow, and ensuring enough space between plants allows for proper air circulation, which can help prevent disease.

Get out into the garden!

By giving your garden the care it needs now, you’ll set yourself up for a thriving, beautiful space all summer long. Whether you’re growing food, flowers, or simply enhancing your landscape, a little preparation in spring can make all the difference as the weather warms.

Advertisements
Tenterfield-The Bowlo
Continue Reading

Gardening

Shredded Rubber Mulch in Your Garden: Is it any good?

Published

on

By

NSW-Northern-Rivers-Breaking-News
Advertisements
MadeComfy

Shredded Rubber Mulch in Your Garden: Is it any good?

By Liam Jennings

Gardeners have experimented with various mulching materials over the years. Each offers its own set of benefits and drawbacks, with most eventually breaking down, fading, or blending into the soil. However, when rubber mulch—made from recycled tires—entered the market, it promised a long-lasting, low-maintenance solution that wouldn’t require reapplication over time. But like any product, shredded rubber mulch comes with both pros and cons.

What is Shredded Rubber Mulch?

Shredded rubber mulch is primarily made from recycled tires and comes in several forms, including crumbs, shreds, nuggets, and sheets. It’s widely used in areas like playgrounds, roadways, and running tracks due to its durability. When compared to traditional mulches, rubber mulch tends to be more expensive upfront but boasts a significantly longer lifespan, potentially saving money in the long run.

The Benefits of Rubber Mulch

  1. Long-lasting Durability: One of the main advantages of rubber mulch is its longevity. Unlike organic materials, it does not decompose or break down over time, meaning it essentially remains in your garden indefinitely. Provided it’s not affected by extreme conditions like flooding or heavy erosion, rubber mulch will stay in place with little need for maintenance.
  1. Moisture Conservation: Rubber mulch acts as a barrier that helps conserve soil moisture. Rain and snow can still penetrate the mulch and reach the soil, but the rubber prevents it from evaporating too quickly. This helps maintain moisture in the soil for longer, especially in hot or dry climates.
  1. Colour Retention: Rubber mulch is available in a variety of colours, which tend to hold up well over time. Unlike organic mulches that may fade after a season or two due to sun and rain exposure, rubber mulch maintains its colour for years, providing a long-lasting, uniform appearance.
  1. Environmentally Friendly Recycling: Since rubber mulch is made from recycled tires, it helps repurpose waste that would otherwise end up in landfills or oceans. It provides a practical and sustainable way to create a useful product out of discarded materials.
  1. Effective Weed Barrier: When applied thickly, rubber mulch can be an excellent barrier against weeds. Due to its lack of pores and ability to retain little moisture, weeds struggle to take root. Seeds may start to germinate, but they typically die off quickly due to the absence of moisture.
  1. Easy to Transport: Unlike heavier options like rocks or pebbles, rubber mulch is dense but relatively lightweight, making it easier to transport in large quantities.

The Downsides of Rubber Mulch

  1. No Benefit to Soil Health: One of the biggest drawbacks of rubber mulch is that it does not enhance soil health. While organic mulches decompose over time, adding valuable nutrients and organic matter to the soil, rubber mulch is completely inert. It doesn’t break down, meaning your soil doesn’t get the same nutrient boost that organic mulches provide.
  1. Heat Retention: Rubber mulch is known to absorb and retain heat, which can become problematic in certain climates. On hot, sunny days, it can trap heat, which may damage delicate plants and even burn the paws of animals walking on it. In extreme conditions, rubber mulch has even been known to combust, releasing harmful toxins into the atmosphere and the surrounding soil.
  1. Difficult to Remove: Once you’ve decided to use rubber mulch, it can be difficult to get rid of if you ever change your mind. Unlike organic mulch that breaks down and becomes part of the soil, rubber mulch remains intact. Removing every last piece can be a tedious task, and disposing of it in bulk requires finding a proper recycling or disposal facility.

The Verdict

Rubber mulch has its place in certain landscapes, particularly in areas where little to no planting occurs, such as pathways, playgrounds, or non-vegetated spaces. Its durability, weed suppression, and moisture retention make it appealing for these uses. However, for traditional garden beds or areas where soil health and plant growth are priorities, rubber mulch may not be the best option.

While it may seem convenient, the long-term consequences of using rubber mulch in a garden should not be overlooked. Its inability to improve soil quality, potential to overheat, and difficulty in removal are significant drawbacks that need careful consideration. Before deciding to incorporate shredded rubber mulch into your garden, weigh the pros and cons thoroughly to ensure it’s the right choice for your space.

Advertisements
Tenterfield-The Bowlo
Continue Reading

NRTimes Online

National News Australia

Facebook

Latest News

Verified by MonsterInsights