On behalf of the Forbes Dragon Boat Club I wish to congratulate and wish the Parkes Dragon Boat Club all the best for their inaugural Paddle and Club launch on Saturday, May 26.

The Forbes club looks forward to a many twin town challenges and friendship both on the water and off.

Having another club in the western region is great for dragon boating and can only help in promoting a great sport for all ages and skills levels.

“The most fun you can have sitting down.”

All the best.

Paddles Up

Thousands of children treated per year at Sydney Children’s Hospital come from regional NSW.

Parkes residents can help families affected by childhood illness as part of Coles’ fundraising campaign for the Sydney Children’s Hospital Foundation’s Gold Appeal.

Until May 31, local shoppers can purchase a $2 ‘virtual hug’ donation card at Coles in Parkes. The funds raised from the sale of donation cards at Coles will go towards research, clinical care and equipment to enable children to have the best possible treatment and hospital experience.

Sydney Children’s Hospital Foundation CEO Nicola Stokes said the Gold Appeal was a vital fundraising initiative to support sick children and their families from across the state.

“The funds raised during the Gold Appeal will help make each day better than the last for sick kids,” she said.

“This appeal has contributed to items from Smart Operating Theatres, using state-of-the-art technology to allow surgeons to perform less invasive procedures on patients, to funding equipment for playrooms in the renal and cardiac ward to provide distraction in difficult times.

“Thanks to the generosity of Coles and communities across New South Wales, every ‘virtual hug’ card purchased can make a huge difference to the lives of our young patients.”

Every year, 69,000 children are treated at Sydney Children’s Hospital and one in five is from regional NSW, including Owen from Dubbo.

At age three, Owen was diagnosed with Nephrotic Syndrome, which causes loss of protein through the kidneys.

Living in Dubbo without access to specialists, one of the doctors from the renal team at Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick flew in to examine Owen. His parents were soon told he would need to travel to Sydney for treatment.

“Knowing we would need to go to Sydney was overwhelming,” Owen’s mother Natalie said. “Owen was only three – plus we had his twin Harry and our other son, Thomas.”

Owen would go on to face further battles with his health and continued to travel to the Sydney Children’s Hospital regularly to receive treatment.

Owen’s mother Natalie said any funds raised for the Sydney Children’s Hospital Foundation made a real difference to families such as her own.

“Owen wouldn’t have made it through without the amazing medical care he received, but that’s not the only thing that makes the hospital so special,” she said.

“All the fun activities and outdoor places help him to feel like he’s still a kid.”

“Thank you to everyone who has kindly donated to the Appeal over the years at Coles.”

Since 2000, Coles has raised more than $2.8 million for the Sydney Children’s Hospital Foundation through raffles and in store fundraisers.

Dear Editor,

I am writing from the not-for-profit organisation the Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia.

In particular I’m wanting readers to be aware that far too many people who have a serious mental illness are not getting treatment … and we need to get that to change.

It’s estimated less than 50% of Australians who have a serious mental illness get treatment.  Obviously this is alarming.

The Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia urges people who may have mental health issues to reach out and get the help they need.  

There is significant support out there from GPs, clinical specialists, and most importantly, community mental health services.

We have a free phone number people can call from anywhere in Australia to get guidance and just call 1800 985 944 if you need some advice on where best to go.  

Readers can also go to MiNetworks.org.au.

Our latest campaign highlights that 230,000 people in Australia are estimated to have schizophrenia.  

When you include families helping these people, around one million people are impacted.

It is utterly shameful that the average life expectancy of someone with schizophrenia in this country is now just 54 years old.  We have to do so much more to support people with schizophrenia. People with schizophrenia can and do recover.

We also highlight that it’s time there was much more government funding for mental health services in all areas of Australia.  Current mental health services are grossly inadequate and this needs to change.

Thank you so much to the kind gentlemen who helped me with a flat tyre on Thursday afternoon (May 17). I was parked in the main street and he waited around until I got back to my car and offered to change my tyre for me. Little things like this let’s me know there is still so much kindness in the world. Again thank you so much.

It's not everyday you see Cr Kenny McGrath dressed to the nines for a Parkes Shire Council meeting but at council's April meeting he thought the occasion called for it after his beloved Dragons had gone through the first six rounds of the NRL competition undefeated. He thought the effort was worth celebrating.