2014-12-09 Book to play a key role in health of farmers – Hamilton Spectator

NATIONAL Centre for Farmer Health board member Hugh Macdonald says the centre’s new book will play an important role in the future health and well being of Western District farmers.

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2014-12-09 Book to play a key role in health of farmers – Hamilton Spectator PDF

2014-12-02 VFF ready for hard Labor – Stock and Land

THE Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) has congratulated the Labor party on its landslide State election win, but is wary the new government might not understand the needs of rural voters as well as the Coalition.

“The new Labor Government will probably be a little more of a challenge to work with because the Coalition probably understood rural issues more,” VFF president Peter Tuohey said.

Labor’s policies in the lead up to the election were more city-based and the VFF will have to do a lot of work to get the new government to understand key issues such as rail and road infrastructure, energy costs to farmers and processors, and supporting business growth in regional and rural areas, he said.

Labor has announced road infrastructure funding, including a promise to spend $1 billion over eight years for country roads, but must also understand the importance of rural and regional rail upgrade, including a standardisation of lines to reduce freight costs, Mr Tuohey said.

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2014-12-02 VFF ready for hard Labor – Stock and Land

Fantastic effort by Devondale Murray Goulburn in the Run4FarmerHealth

Devondale Murray Goulburn

Thank you Devondale Murray Goulburn for raising over $7000 for the Run4FarmerHealth held on 12th October. Devondale Murray Goulburn had over 35 members in the team, with Sales Manager Patrick Flynn raising the most with $1812.00 through his running of the 1/2 marathon.

Patrick is seen presenting the proceeds to NCFH Director Susan Brumby on Tuesday at MG headquarters Southbank.

Thank you Devondale Murray Goulburn and Carina Urquart, Environmental Operations Manager for the wonderful support and for making a difference.

November 1 – 2014 Uncertain future for Farmer Health – Melbourne Sun

It is often said that farmers avoid seeing a doctor. Added to the obvious logistical challenges of reaching an appointment, there is an attitude of ‘just getting on with things’ and being resilient.

Raising awareness and educating farming communities about health and wellbeing is the primary goal of the National Centre for Farmer Health, a partnership between Western District Health Service and Deakin University. However, the Hamilton based Centre is dependent on government funding and its future is uncertain.

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November 1 – 2014 Uncertain future for Farmer Health – Melbourne Sun (Page 8)

2014-10-29 Farmers and skin protection: not a perfect marriage – Riverine Herald

Rural GPs deal with skin cancer every day and in collaboration with the National Centre for Farmer Health and Deakin University, Christel Smit led a team of researchers looking into the attitude of farmers towards skin protection from sun damage and found some alarming statistics.

Dr Smit discovered despite decades of slip,slop,slap Australian farmers were not getting the message but had high skin cancer rates.

Recently in the Riverina area a study was done where farmers were invited to join a roundtable discussion about skin protection.

Australia has the world’s highest rate of skin cancers and farmers are five to 10 times more exposed to UV radiation than indoor workers…

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2014-10-29 Farmers and skin protection: not a perfect marriage – Riverine Herald [PDF 957kb]

2014-10-14 Farmer Dollars – Hamilton Spectator

A STATE Labor Government if elected in November would ensure the future of the National Centre for Farmer Health (NCFH) with $1 million each year for four years.

Shadow parliamentary secretary for agriculture, Jaala Pulford announced the news on Friday to staff and board members of both the NCFH and the Western District Health Service (WDHS).
NCFH director, Sue Brumby was speechless and overwhelmed with emotion when the announcement was made.

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2014-10-14 Farmer Dollars – Hamilton Spectator -PDF

2014-10-14 Farmer Dollars – Hamilton Spectator website

2014-10-14 Cow runs in Melbourne Marathon – Stock & Land

More than 100 entrants took part in the The Run for Farmer Health – part of the Melbourne marathon on Sunday; one even donned a cow onesie.

The run aimed to raise the profile, and funding, for Hamilton’s National Centre for Farmer Health.

One runner, Edward Kus, completed 13km of the 42km course in a cow onesie.

The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) teamed up with the Centre to #Run4FarmerHealth in the marathon.

“We are committed to advocating for this centre and are prepared to literally ‘walk the talk’ and run in solidarity to support NCFH,” VFF

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2014-10-14 Cow runs in Melbourne Marathon – Stock & Land

2014-10-13 National Centre for Farmer Health welcomes ALP funding pledge – ABC News

The National Centre for Farmer Health, in western Victoria, has praised the State Opposition’s commitment to fund the centre if it wins next month’s state election.

Last Friday, the Labor Party promised $4 million over four years to the Hamilton-based research centre.

The centre’s director, Sue Brumby, says the funding is not contingent on federal funding, providing much needed security.

She says it will also mean the centre can reinstate some of the jobs that were lost earlier in the year.

“It was unexpected, we’re just so pleased and to give such continuity for us for four years and to also allow us to reinstate some of the positions that have gone and actually provide more services again,” she said.

Meanwhile, the centre raised almost $14,000 and ended up sixth on the fundraising board at the Melbourne Marathon yesterday.

More than 133 people, including local politicians, ran to raise money for the centre.

Source: National Centre for Farmer Health welcomes ALP funding pledge – ABC News

2014-10-10 Deakin welcomes funding commitment for National Centre for Farmer Health – Deakin University

10 October 2014

Deakin University has welcomed a funding commitment for the National Centre for Farmer Health.

“Deakin welcomes the announcement that if elected, Victorian Labor will provide $1 million each year over the next four years towards the Centre,” Deakin Pro Vice-Chancellor (Health), Professor Brendan Crotty said today.

“Since opening in 2008, the National Centre for Farmer Health has combined university research, service delivery and education to improve the health and wellbeing of farmers, farm workers and their families across Australia.

“The Centre’s research and education programs have played a significant role in identifying and addressing health issues in farming communities, and we welcome this commitment to an important healthcare initiative.”

The Centre is a partnership between Deakin University and Western District Health Service and is based in Hamilton.

Source: Deakin welcomes funding commitment for National Centre for Farmer Health – Deakin University

2014-10-10 VFF applauds Labor’s commitment to Farmer Health – Victorian Farmers Federation

VICTORIAN Farmers have today welcomed the Labor government’s commitment to provide the National Centre for Farmer Health with $1 million of funding each year for the next four years if it wins the November 29 election.

“This is a sensational commitment from the Victorian Labor government and certainly one of the key election priorities for the VFF,” Victorian Farmers Federation president Peter Tuohey said today.

“We have spearheaded this campaign together with the Centre to ensure that the Hamilton based service is kept alive and we commend the Labor government.

“We need to make sure that an institution which plays such a vital role for farming families’ physical and mental health is alive and well for years to come.

“This commitment may just do this – so it’s a great win for regional Victorian’s and farmers across the state who firmly rely on its service,” Mr Tuohey said.

The Victorian Farmers Federation has also proudly teamed together with the Centre to #Run4FarmerHealth on Sunday’s Melbourne Marathon.

“We are committed to advocating for this centre and are prepared to literally, ‘walk the talk’ and run in solidarity to support the NCFH,” Mr Tuohey said.

The VFF will join more than 130 runners on Sunday to raise awareness of the great work conducted by the centre.

Media Contacts:
Peter Tuohey, VFF President 0428 952 425
Tom Whitty, VFF Media Manager 0417 165 784

2014-10-10 Labor pledges money for National Centre for Farmer Health at Hamilton – Weekly Times

UPDATE: A VICTORIAN Labor Government would fully fund the National Centre for Farmer Health for the next four years if elected.

Western Victoria Upper House MP Jaala Pulford made the announcement at the Hamilton-based centre this afternoon.

The Opposition announced it would provide the centre with $1 million funding each year for the next four years if it wins the November 29 election.

The centre was set up by the previous Labor Government in 2008 but has battled to stay open since the Coalition Government cut its funding in 2012.

The Victorian Government had claimed the centre was a national organisation and should be partly federally funded, but the previous Federal Labor Government had refused.

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2014-10-10 Labor pledges money for National Centre for Farmer Health at Hamilton – Weekly Times

2014-10-09 – Episode Rural Mental Health – 20Twenty Vision Christian Radio

Episode Rural Mental Health, Dr Susan Brumby – Deakin Uni et al

20Twenty with Neil Johnson from Vision Radio Network www.vision.org.au