Voice Referendum committee
The Joint Select Committee on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice Referendum started its program of public hearings in Canberra on Friday.
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At its first hearing the committee heard evidence from representatives of the Uluru Statement from the Heart and the Indigenous Voice Co-design Process.
The committee intends to hold public hearings. The dates and locations of hearings will be decided shortly and published as soon as possible.
Guarantee for pharmacies
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) has called on the Federal Government to change a compensation payment clause within the next Community Pharmacy Agreement to save Australians money.
There is a clause in the seventh agreement signed between the previous government and the Pharmacy Guild, which obligates the Federal Government to financially compensate pharmacies if the number of prescriptions dispensed nationwide drops in any given year.
Pharmacies already have protections around ownership and location laws that reduce choice and access to cheaper medicines for patients. This clause gives them a boost when sales are down because people are well. Could you imagine doctors being given a bonus payment by government when people don’t need to see a doctor?
“High cost of living pressures are forcing some people to forego medicines they desperately need. So, it’s galling to learn of this part of the pharmacy deal costing patients up to $180 a year on more than 140 medicines.”
Infrastructure strategy input
State Member for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland is encouraging regional Victorians to have their say on Victoria’s 30-year infrastructure strategy.
Infrastructure Victoria is an independent body that advises the state government how and where infrastructure is needed to support fair access for all.
Ms Cleeland said Infrastructure Victoria had opened public consultation to help identify infrastructure needs across the state from 2025 to 2055.
“Given the city centric nature of the Andrews government, it’s vitally important for regional Victorians to be aware of this consultation process and provide input,” Ms Cleeland said.
Ms Cleeland said given Infrastructure Victoria’s consultation is looking at the needs of the state up until 2055, it was vital for young people to have their say and not just those living in Melbourne.
Infrastructure Victoria’s consultation process remains open until May 28.
Feedback can be completed online at https://engage.vic.gov.au/victorias30yearinfrastructurestrategy
Memory Walk & Jog event
Melbourne Memory Walk & Jog will be held to support Dementia Australia on Sunday, May 7, at Carlton’s Princes Park.
The Memory Walk & Jog will raise funds and awareness for people impacted by dementia.
Dementia Australia chief executive officer Maree McCabe is delighted to welcome participants to the flagship fundraising event.
“Memory Walk & Jog is Dementia Australia’s largest fundraising initiative and raises much-needed funds to provide invaluable support, education and resources for people living with dementia, their families and carers,” Ms McCabe said.
“It’s estimated that 65 per cent of people living with dementia live in the community.
“This could be a family member, a friend or a neighbour. It could be anyone in our community.
“By walking, jogging, or running, raising money and awareness, you will help the countless families impacted by dementia in Melbourne and across Australia.”
There are more than 400,000 people of all ages living with some form of dementia in Australia.
Without a medical breakthrough, the number of people living with dementia is expected to almost double in 30 years.
Dementia is the second leading cause of death in Australia and the leading cause of death for women.
Sign-up to join in or volunteer at a Memory Walk & Jog event at www.memorywalk.com.au
Decide to walk, jog or run and select from a variety of distances and share your Memory Walk & Jog experience on your socials.
Donate today to support people living with dementia across Australia. If you can’t attend an event, why not organise your own group or individual walk or jog, with a My Way event. Choose your own date and location and register at www.memorywalk.com.au
Kids in driveways warning
Kidsafe Victoria has issued a warning about the dangers that driveways can pose for children, in a bid to reduce the number of low-speed vehicle runover incidents.
The warning comes as part of a campaign for National Low Speed Vehicle Run Over (LSVRO) Prevention Awareness Day — held last Sunday (April 16).
The day — which was established by Emma and Peter Cockburn in memory of their daughter Georgina, who was fatally injured in a LSVRO incident on April 16, 2011 — is dedicated to raising awareness about the dangers driveways pose for children and what families can do to reduce the risk of LSVRO incidents occurring
On average, every year seven children aged 0-14 years are killed and 60 are seriously injured due to driveway run over incidents in Australia. Most incidents occur in the driveway of the child’s own home, or in a friend or relative’s driveway, and the driver is usually a parent, relative, or family friend.
For more information on driveway safety, please visit the Kidsafe Victoria website.
Northern Rivers Uniting Church cluster
Extends to you a warm welcome to worship with the Bamawm, Elmore, Rochester, Dingee churches, and Tongala Aged Care. Worship begins 10am. ZOOM to other churches and homes.
April 2: Face to Face at Dingee 10am.
April 30: Combined Cluster Service at Rochester Church Hall 10am led by David Lipore, Bible Society. Bring and share morning tea.
Zoom connection link is: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/826-6681-8761 Password 22
Via phone: 03 7018 2005. Meeting ID: 826 6681 8761# Password 22#
Phone: Rev Brian Morgan 0419 933 938 for further details.
Rochester misses ‘draught’
Rochester has missed out on being a part of the 2023 Carlton Draught, with the six regional Victorian country clubs to host AFL legends being announced last week.
Carlton Draught announced the deserving clubs granted a selection in the 2023 The Carlton Draft as Buchan Football Netball Club — Omeo & District Football Netball League; Carngham Linton Football Netball Club — Central Highlands Football League; Maryborough Rovers Football Netball Club — Maryborough & District Football Netball League; Moyston-Willaura Football Netball Club — Mininera & District Football Netball League; Murrabit Football Netball Club — Golden Rivers Football League and Nilma Darnum Football Netball Club — Ellenbank District Football League.
The Carlton Draft playing pool includes more than 1700 games of AFL experience, with each player coming out of retirement for one unforgettable match in 2023.
The Carlton Draft playing pool comprises 2003 Brownlow Medal winner Nathan Buckley, Four-time premiership Hawk Jordan Lewis, 229-game veteran and Fox Footy media personality Bernie Vince, 2004 Power premiership player and outspoken media personality Kane Cornes, recently retired 2012 premiership player and former Sydney Swans captain Josh Kennedy and Fremantle games record holder and 2015 All-Australian David Mundy.
It will be a nervous wait for clubs ahead of draft night on Wednesday, May 3, which will be broadcast live on FOX FOOTY. The draft order and how it is determined will be revealed on the night.
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