Guest Speaker - Elizabeth Sinclair, CEO, Yea & District Memorial Hospital.
Chairperson Chris Kellett introduced our guest speaker. Chris was very pleased to introduce her, as Elizabeth was under her leadership as a grad nurse at the Alfred Hospital (many years ago!)Thank you to RC of Yea for the support to give the sale yard program a permanent home. Together with the Elders Grant a portable building was ordered, this has now been expanded to a two room facility, plus veranda, thanks to generosity of Gerry Ryan and the Jayco Group. Rotary has also sup-ported the purchase of the mouth mapping software, which is 1 of only 4 in use in the world. This aids the early detecting of mouth cancer. The new facility should be in place and operational by the January cattle sales.
Yea Hospital has 10 acute beds, 25 aged care beds (high and low care) and community health programs to support the urgent needs of our community. We are an aging population, with 26.1% of Murrindindi Shire populations being over 65. Mental Health support is essential, with Murrindindi Shire having a higher than average suicide rate 20.3% compared to state average of 11.8 per 100,000 head of population, along with alcohol and drug related incidents, with Murrindindi having 61% more deaths than State average. Alarming figures. Respiratory Care and Asthma are also higher than state average.
To support these extra programs, not funded under the hospital funding, grants, partnerships and philanthropic funding has been sourced, allowing for the provision of these vital programs -
Cardiovascular health program; Farmer health program (at sale yards) Mental health clinician in schools; Primary mental health for Mitchell and Murrindindi Shires; Our Children our Community program for Murrindindi; Over the farm gate program; Indigenous mental health; Carer support program; Mobile health clinics; Health re-search; Lung function testing and respiratory clinic; Geriatric care; Cognitive, dementia and memory service.
We are so grateful for the care and support provided by the Y&DMH health team.
3 Minute Speaker Ian Lynch - Ian was a teacher at Yea High School, and of the 50 years he has been in Yea, there was a one year break—1997. Ian was awarded a Teaching Exchange Fellowship, with the opportunity to teach Maths for 12 months in Fairbanks, Alaska. The exchange was a complete house swap for a teacher to come to Yea. Lots of challenges to move family for 12 months — ticket mix ups, passports out of date, car trouble …. Just to name a few! Arriving in winter meant serious snow falls, freezing temperatures and very short daylight hours in the day. It was a wonderful experience for the family and I to immerse ourselves into the Alaskan way of life for 12 months, and I know the Jarvis family who spent 12 months in Yea were rewarded with a rich experience.
Thanks to Deb Baynes and team for another delicious roast pork meal!