JOURNALIST Sandra Godwin looks back at the events and issues from June in The Guardian’s Year in Review series.
Friday, June 24
· Woorinen South residents are campaigning for an upgraded wastewater system for their town. Woorinen District Progress Association treasurer Lyndon Patterson said raw sewage spilled onto local streets during recent rain and flooding. The lack of a centralised sewerage system had been an issue for 15 years, he said. Lower Murray Water estimated the cost to households at $20,000-$35,000 each.
· The Bureau of Meteorology announced an end to La Nina in the tropical Pacific, but warned of a 50 per cent chance of it returning later in the year. Head of long-range forecasts Andrew Watkins said a three-year La Nina had only been seen three times since the middle of last century.
Tuesday, June 28
· The NSW Government has yet to clarify whether a $4.5 billion boost to the struggling health sector would help regional and rural areas such as the Murray region address critical worker shortages. Member for Murray Helen Dalton said more needed to be done to encourage doctors to stay in the region.
· A new campaign to help look after the social and emotional wellbeing of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people was launched at headspace Swan Hill. Take a Step provides resources to help recognise when all is not well, and what steps can be taken towards feeling better.
