Mini-Measles epidemic hits the hinterland Something fishy is going on at Underwater World’s Seal Island with a new seal show launching in the June/July school holidays. Local children will perform the voices of the seals, who will be ‘training’ the humans to make the world a better place for them. Creative director Mark Eady, who also produced The Man from Snowy River Arena Spectacular on the Gold Coast, said that this was one of the most ambitious seal shows ever attempted by a theme park or aquarium. “Animals are unpredictable and we can only ask them to do what we want them to do. In the new show, it will be the seals who run the show while the trainers are the guests!” Mark said. To find out more, call Underwater World on 5458 6280 or visit www.underwaterworld.com.au QUEENSLANDERS: LET’S GET HEALTHY!
Doctors have warned of mumps and rubella outbreaks in the Sunshine Coast hinterland
after a recent ‘mini-measles epidemic’ at Beerwah High School. The warning came as Queensland Health confirmed around 15 cases of measles among students not vaccinated against the disease. Australian Medical Association Queensland president Mason Stevenson said immunisation rates in both the Gold and Sunshine Coast hinterland regions were about 70%, which is 20% lower than the national average. He said the dangers of communities developing measles, mumps and rubella were much higher in places with immunisation rates substantially lower than 90%. "As a result of falling immunisation rates, we’ve already had a whooping cough epidemic on the Sunshine Coast affecting many hundreds of adults and children and we expect there to be rubella epidemics and mumps epidemics in the future," he said
NEW SEAL SHOW AT UNDERWATER WORLD
DOES YOUR BABY KEEP TAKING THEIR NAPPY OFF?
While babies tend to go through a stage where they think it’s pretty amusing to take their own nappy off, parents have the opposite agenda – we want to keep it on and keep the contents safely inside! Melanie Sonter, a local product developer, is testing out a new product called Button Up Baby to address this very messy problem. If you have a bub or toddler who constantly takes off their nappy, Melanie would love you to test out the product at your home for a week then report back with the results. If you’re interested in getting involved, call 5473 9048 or visit www.buttonupbaby.com.au to find out more.
OPEN ADOPTION NOW AN OPTION
New adoption laws for Queensland will mean that, for the first time, people will be able to choose an open adoption. Research shows open adoption results in more positive outcomes for adopted children, by allowing them to find out who they are with the knowledge of both their birth and adoptive parents. Birth parents and the adopted family will soon be able to choose the level of involvement with each other and the extent of information shared. Current laws restrict adopted people and birth parents involved in an adoption prior to 1991 accessing information, if one of them objects. This means more than 1,100 people adopted before June 1991 cannot access their own family history, and more than 1,600 birth parents can’t learn names of the adoptive parents who have raised their offspring. The new laws are expected to come into force later this year.
RICE HELPS VACCINATE CHILDREN IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC
Next time you buy rice you could be helping disadvantaged children receive essential vaccinations we take for granted. SunRice is uniting with UNICEF Australia to fund an ongoing children’s vaccination program in the South Pacific to help stop children under five dying from preventable diseases. The UNICEF immunisation programs aim to reach 900,000 by providing funds for vaccination storage, training, distribution and management to eliminate measles and control Hepatitis B. To find out more, visit www.sunricedifference.com.au or phone 1800 255 999. 
Queensland men are the most overweight (60%) and smoke more than other states (29%). Women fair slightly better with just over 40% overweight or obese and 20.5% smokers. To encourage improvement, the Queensland Government has launched its inaugural Healthy Queensland Awards. Some of the innovative ideas already developed include social wheelchair basketball, weekly bike rides, fruit smoothie fundraisers, a permaculture garden and football boot camps. Look out for an initiative near you!
CAN YOU CARE FOR KIDS?
Over 150 new foster and kinship carers have opened their hearts and homes to help protect at-risk children, thanks to a $15 million recruitment campaign. Statistics show there are a staggering 7,000 kids in Queensland who cannot live safely at home due to the risk of abuse or neglect. While Queensland has around 3,500 foster and kinship carers, more are always needed, even if it's just to provide a couple of hours support for fulltime carers. To become involved, call 1300 550 877 or visit www.childsafety.qld.gov.au
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