Dear BHAG members

I’m writing to let you know about a couple of events being organised by two of our members. I would also like to take this opportunity to let you know that the BHAG committee is currently working on a document to submit to the Health Reform Discussion Paper to clarify Bellingen’s positioning for the new health networks and that we are working towards becoming a mature negotiation partner on behalf of the community in this process. If you would like to know more, please contact Pia Dollmann at *bellohospitalrescue@gmail.com

Kind regards

Gai Stern

Secretary

*Craft day 17 July 2010*

We are having a craft display and some demonstrations at the Uniting Church on 17 July 2010 for the hospital – the same day as the market.

It will run from 9.00 am till 1.00 pm. Admittance will be $5 which will include morning tea. There will also be some craft will for sale and 20% of the profit will go to BHAG.

If anyone has things to sell, 20% will also go to BHAG. Also, if anyone wants to be involved or can help with cooking please contact Maxine Keys on 6655 0591 or Fay Gibson on 6655 1520.

regards, Maxine Keys (fundraising committee)

Rally 24 July 2010

*Dear BHAG and friends

On Saturday July 24th, Ridley Scott (renowned Director of films such as ”Blade Runner,” “Alien”, “Gladiator” and “Robin Hood)” is asking people around the world to film something in the day of their lives. In the light of our current situation with the Hospital’s future still uncertain and a federal election looming, it feels as though this is a good opportunity for us to gather together with the people of Bellingen and surrounding areas to demonstrate its unique spirit and unwavering support for our Hospital.

The film will be placed on Youtube with the possability of making it into a feature film which will subsequently be made of that day.The theme is that “People Matter” – that our health system is about people, not numbers, and that community consultation is imperative and that whichever side of politics takes the reins, this fact of involvement with doctors, nurses, practitioners, clinicians and patients needs to be embraced rather than ignored or passed over, as has been the case for so long.

It is intended that the meeting begin at 12 noon. If people could arrive earlier, well and good.. Speakers have been invited: politicians and doctors, to be followed by a march up the street with placards and visual displays that represent us as a vibrant, spirited, caring community who are not prepared to lie down and accept being ridden over roughshod by bureaucrats and systems that barely manage to use the words “patient care” in their overbearing, complex declarations of how our health system should be run.

Our theme I think reflects a wider view that is present in the world, that being about values, and the rights of people to be listened to by governments, and treated with respect, dignity and professionalism. Much of what we take for granted here in Bellingen is missing in many parts of the world. Here we have the privilege of a caring community with facilities and assistance that are generally accessible, a large part of which can be attributed to the existence of our unique and wonderful Hospital. However, the loss of our Hospital services and the demoralizing of medical people – nurses, doctors and related areas reflects a wider problem that is affecting our community, that of de-humanization, and lack of care. While we have still a beautiful, unique, varied and vibrant population, let us stand up for that Spirit for ourselves, our Hospital, and for people and Communities everywhere, and insist that we, the people, matter and need to be listened to.

So the invitation is there for everyone to attend Maam Gaduying (Council) Park at 12 Noon until about One O’clock to stand up for our Hospital, and the rights of individuals and communities everywhere.

Please make a placard, and get your children and teenagers to dress wild. You never know, we might make it into a feature film.

For information, email me at this address.. solveig.larsen@yahoo.com.au

<mailto:solveig.larsen@yahoo.com.au> or ring 6655 0511.

Regards, Solveig Larsen.

Date: 13 Jul 2010

Location: Bellingen Library, Hyde Street Bellingen

Australian Hearing will be conducing FREE hearing screenings for pensioners and veterans at Bellingen Library on Tuesday 13th July 2010.

Please contact the Library for appointments: 02 6655 1744

This article can be found on the web at:  http://bellingen.local-e.nsw.gov.au/events/pages/8985.html

Bellingen Shire Needs You

BELLINGEN SHIRE RFL 6th – 7th NOVEMBER 2010

Relay For Life is a fun, community based event to raise funds to continue the work of Cancer Council in the fight against cancer and following on from the highly successful Bellingen Energy Festival 2010, the Bellingen Shire Relay For Life will be themed “renewable and recyclable” . Solar Inverters have come onboard, with Cancer Council, as an “in-kind” sponsor for the Bellingen Shire Relay and will be providing solar power for the stage sound and lighting systems. We would like to make the Relay plastic free and ask all team members to focus on using recyclable and reusable containers for food, drink and merchandise etc. The hot drink van at the Relay will be powered by solar energy and gas and the coffee will be organic fair trade.

Registration for the Relay is easy, you can click on the link below and register on line, or call Cancer Council on 6659 8403 and an information pack will be mailed to you. The information pack contains registration forms, details of team information nights, the answers to many of the frequently asked questions about Relay, as well as some great fundraising ideas. Get your friends, family or workmates together and sign-up today.

http://relay.cancercouncil.com.au/relay.html?relay_id=458

The Relay planning committee meets regularly to plan the event and could do with some assistance in team recruitment and development, children’s activities and media and marketing. If you can spare a few hours a month to help with the Relay, please contact the Relay committee chair person, Robyn Hawkshaw on billrobyn.hawkshaw@gmail.com to discuss the various roles.

With your help we can make a difference in the fight against cancer.

Regards,

Ted

Ted Greenwood

Community Relations Coordinator

Cancer Council Mid North Coast

121 High St Coffs Harbour 2450

tedg@nswcc.org.au

6659 8403

We would like to invite you and your members to provide feedback on the NSW Healthy Workers Initiative. The attached discussion paper provides background on the Initiative. It describes services which will be available to employers and employees, and that differ from existing work place activities focusing on health.

NSW Health Healthy Workers Initiative Paper

The Allen Consulting Group has been commissioned by NSW Health to obtain feedback from business in order to determine the best model to achieve the goal of improved health among the NSW population, focusing on people in paid employment 35 to 55 years of age.

Feedback from employers

We request your assistance in distributing this information to NSW employers, who are invited to participate in a web forum and provide feedback on the discussion paper. For example, you may wish to include this information in an email to members, in regular communication to members or on your own website.

The link to the web forum: www.allenconsult.com.au/gethealthy

We would like to provide an opportunity to as many of your member businesses to participate in providing input on this Initiative. In particularly, we invite comments on the mix, extent and feasibility of services proposed for the NSW Healthy Workers Initiative.

Please let us know if we can provide any further information or clarification about the Initiative. You can contact us at Allen Consulting Group at 02 8272 5100 or GetHealthy@allenconsult.com.au

Your organisation’s assistance with this research will be extremely valuable and greatly appreciated. Thank you for considering this request.

Susan Glendinning | Office Manager

The Allen Consulting Group

Level 1, 50 Pitt St, Sydney NSW 2000

T: 02 8272 5100 | F: 02 9247 2455

sglendinning@allenconsult.com.au | www.allenconsult.com.au

Urunga Dentist, Dr Harry Martin and his wife Meg, have kindly offered their residence for a fund raising event on behalf of the Bellingen Hospital Action Group (BHAG). Harry and Meg have organised friends and colleagues to assist in the organising.

The event, “An Afternoon by the River” is planned for 10th July 2010 commencing at 2pm at Harry & Meg’s home, “The Boathouse” Atherton Drive, Urunga. Tickets will be limited to 150, will cost $50 per person, and will include hor dourves, wine and beer (until 4:30pm), a meal, and entertainment. Ticket holders will also be in a draw for lucky door prizes. All proceeds will benefit BHAG.

Tickets are to be sold through The Urunga Pharmacy (6655-6104), thanks to UMCC President Steve. Flyers are to be printed to help promote the event, and President Steve has agreed for the information to be circulated through the UMCC network, which includes our sister chamber in Bellingen whom we request pass on through their network.

Harry, Meg and their friends and colleagues are committed to making this a successful event for BHAG, to show that the community values BHAG’s efforts in protecting the health services available to our community.

Pete Bennetts

Min.Sec & Public Officer

Urunga Mylestom Chamber of Commerce

02-6655.5001

Location: Bellingen Senior Citizens Centre – Hyde Street Bellingen

Time: 09:30

The Bellingen Senior Citizens Centre will be hosting Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea on Tuesday morning 25th May, 2010.

Come along and sample some home baked goodies and share a cuppa for a small donation. Funds raised will go to the Cancer Council to aid in research, prevention, education and support.

To find out more about this event visit Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea online

This article can be found on the web at:

http://bellingen.local-e.nsw.gov.au/events/pages/3234.html

http://www.deewr.gov.au/Ministers/Gillard/Media/Releases/Pages/Article_100225_130424.aspx

The Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Julia Gillard, and Special Adviser for Work and Family Balance and Pay Equity, Senator Jacinta Collins, today encouraged small business to apply for grants of up to $15,000 to help them better balance work and family.

There are “…opportunities for small business to apply for grants of up to $15,000 to help them better balance work and family. Eligible small businesses with less than 15 employees can apply for the grants to put in place family-friendly arrangements in their workplaces. (These) second round grants form part of the Australian Government’s $12 million Fresh Ideas for Work and Family Grants Program.”

Bellingen Shire Council’s February Council Meeting has been put back a day to enable a Council deputation to meet NSW Deputy Premier and Minister for Health, Carmel Tebbutt to convey concerns about service reductions at the Bellinger River District Hospital at Bellingen. Mayor – Cr Mark Troy, Deputy Mayor – Cr Kerry Child and General Manager Mike Colreavy will be meeting the Minister in Sydney on 24 February along with local Member of Parliament, Andrew Stoner. The Council has agreed to include Bellingen Hospital Action Group representative, Jaki Lockyer, in the delegation.

“We have concerns about the direction the hospital is heading and we asked Andrew Stoner to seek this meeting last December,” said Cr Troy. “Promises made to the community many months ago to reinstate the maternity services have not been kept, and it is now at a standstill. We also hold grave fears that there is an underlying agenda to cut other services including possibly discontinuing the 24 hour accident and emergency service and reducing the availability of acute beds. We will be telling the Minister that these service reductions are completely unacceptable to the Bellingen community. We want obstetric and maternity services re-instated and assurances that other services will be maintained.”

Members of the delegation also understand that some hospital functions could be better utilised, such as the operating theatre. “There is spare capacity with the operating theatre,” said Cr Troy.

Cr Troy also said that the Hospital needs more funding to maintain and replace infrastructure. “It is our understanding that the North Coast area receives substantially less than its equitable share under the funding formula that determines how much should be allocated to the Region,” said Cr Troy. “Consequently the infrastructure is being run down because the Area Health Service can’t afford to maintain it properly. This is a very unsatisfactory state of affairs.”

The February Council meeting will instead be held on Thursday 25 February.

Authorised by Mike Colreavy – General Manager File No.:

Date: 8/2/2010

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: Mark Troy 6655 7315

ALL COMMUNICATIONS TO BE ADDRESSED TO THE GENERAL MANAGER, PO BOX 117, BELLINGEN NSW 2454, TELEPHONE (02) 66557300, FAX (02) 66552310

5pm Wednesday 11th November at the Bellingen Uniting Church Complex.

See flyer below

BHAG Poster Public meet 111109