TROY BELL MP
Member for Mount Gambier
Your Independent voice
in State Parliament
No shortage of news for final month of 2023
Wednesday January 03, 2024DECEMBER wrapped up another year for the team at SA Today, as we now look forward to an exciting future for all our mastheads both new and old.
Renewed calls for a marine rescue service at Port MacDonnell were prompted by an incident involving anglers Mark Adams and Eion Lawler.
After a three-and-a-half metre wave capsized their boat, Mr Adams managd to swim to shore while Mr Lawler drifted another 150 metres to a nearby reef, which he climbed onto and waited for two hours before being rescued by a helicopter.
Member for Mount Gambier Troy Bell said the recent incident was exactly the reason why funding was needed for a rescue service to prevent any further accidents or tragedies at sea.
Three Millicent charities came together to raise a grand total of $30,591 during this year's 5280 Charity Ball.
The funds were divided between the Millicent Cancer Support Group (MCSG), Wattle Range Hospital Auxiliary (WHRA) and the Royal Flying Doctor Suport Group Millicent (RFDSGM) evenly.
Members of the MCSG decided during an AGM their funding would go towards a $2800 treatment couch and a $10,500 portable ultrasound machine for the MGH cancer care and breast care specialist team.
The RFDSGM's funds would go towards Adelaide's Royal Flying Doctors Service, which RFDSGM secretary Max Blacketer said would "keep the Royal Flying Doctors flying".
The WRHA continued to liaise with the Millicent Hospital to see what was in demand in terms of equipment and supplies.
Recent demand for the new Urgent Care Clinic in Mount Gambier/Berrin revealed the continued stress and pressure general practitioners were under according to clinic director Dr Richard Try.
Dr Try said a large portion of patients attending the Urgent Care Clinic did not have a registration with a GP or did not know where to find one and were approaching the clinic with enquiries which could not be addressed without a GP.
Dr Try encouraged the community to continue developing a relationship with general practitioners and emphasised the clinic was not replacing GPs but intended to work alongside them.
It was predicted the number of regional medical trainees in the Limestone Coast would double in the coming years due to a $19.7m funding package provided by the federal government.
This came as an effort to push more medical students to settle in regions such as Mount Gambier/Berrin.
There were roughly nine Flinders University students who studied in the Limestone Coast each year, as this number was predicted to double after 2025.
The federal government also committed to $15m in funding which goes towards 27 Limestone Coast mobile towers which were proposed earlier in the year.
It marked the largest mobile co-investment project proposed by Telstra in South Australia and was also one of the largest projects nationally. Some proposed areas included Coles, Penola, Mount McIntyre, Rendelsham, Canunda, Robe and Lake Hawdon.
Other proposed towers would be established at Beachport, Southend, Tantanoola, Kongorong, Conroe, Caroline, Moorak, Yahl, Caveton, OB Flat and Port MacDonnell.