PETER BANNAN looks back at the events and issues from July in The Guardian‘s Year in Review series.
Friday, July 8
• The redevelopment of the Swan Hill District Health emergency department was another step closer with the release of rendered images by the State Government. Acting chief executive Chloe Keogh said there was a sense of relief to be able to share the images with the community. The upgrade will include a four-bed short-stay unit, an isolated room and a behavioural assessment room.
• The Sunraysia almond industry faced losing up to half-a-billion dollars if a permit system to allow the movement of bees was not operational by July 24, the chair of the Almond Board of Australia warned.
Tuesday, July 12
• Celebration of 70 years of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and survival was centre stage as part of NAIDOC Week activities in Swan Hill. “Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up!” was the theme of a week of events, with organisers hoping the celebrations brought Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities closer together.
• Swan Hill Mayor Jade Benham stepped down from the council at its July meeting to do battle as The Nationals’ pre-selected candidate for the seat of Mildura in the state election. Cr Benham said she was not required to stand down until November 2, but didn’t want to be a “distraction” from the council’s work.
