Riverland Mallee Coorong Local Health Network

16/11/2025

[HEALTH ALERT]

SA Health has been notified of a case of measles in a child who was exposed overseas.

Measles is a serious and highly contagious infectious disease.

Anyone who isn’t fully immunised, and particularly those who were in the locations at the times listed, should be alert for symptoms over the next few weeks and see a doctor if they become ill.

Symptoms of measles start with fever, cough, runny nose, and sore eyes, followed by a blotchy rash which usually begins on the head and then spreads down the body.

If you believe you have measles symptoms, contact your doctor before you visit so precautions can be taken to avoid spreading the infection to others.

For more information on measles, visit bit.ly/3TNTVr9

16/11/2025

⭐ CONGRATULATIONS to Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital (MBSMH) Enrolled Nurse (EN), Darryl Canaway, on an incredible 50 Years of Service!

Darryl began her career in Adelaide in the mid-1970s.

“My choice of nursing as a career was shaped by the many family members who have chosen this path,” she says.

“I commenced nursing in January 1975 at the Lyell McEwin Hospital. In September of that year, I started working at MBSMH - what I thought would be a short stay turned into 50 years.”

Darryl says she gained a lot from her early years of nursing.

“Initially, nurses rotated throughout the hospital allowing me to gain experience in all areas of nursing,” she says.

“I believe this knowledge base has always been of great benefit to me.”

Darryl has enjoyed her time at MBSMH, particularly the relationships she has formed.

“The highlight of my many years of nursing has been the camaraderie, teamwork and sharing of the knowledge and experience that I have gained.”

Please join us in congratulating Darryl on her amazing achievement! 💙

📸 Pictured: Darryl receiving her certificate, pin and plaque from MBSMH Director of Nursing and Midwifery, Kristin Hunter, at a celebratory afternoon tea.

15/11/2025

Women living in the Riverland Mallee Coorong Local Health Network (RMCLHN) region can now book directly in to our Midwifery Group Practice (MGP) program using a new online form.

🤰 MGP offers care with a known midwife throughout your pregnancy and up to six weeks after your baby is born.

It’s easy to book in - visit bit.ly/MGPRegistration and enter your details.

What else do I need to know?
🔹 We recommend booking in as early as possible so that our midwives can support you with information about your options for pregnancy care.
🔹 You can access care with our midwives regardless of where you’re planning to have your baby - book in to discuss your options.
🔹 You can access this service directly - no referral required. Get in touch and we will guide you from there.

14/11/2025

We caught up with some of our wonderful Allied Health Assistants (AHAs) this week to celebrate AHA Day!

👋 Meet Tracy Walding!

Q: What does a typical day look like for you?
A: I work across three programs including physiotherapy, rehabilitation, and transitional care. A typical day begins with checking in with my team to discuss priorities and plan the day’s workload.

Throughout the day, I provide therapies to consumers based on programs developed by Allied Health Professionals (AHPs), which can include physiotherapy, occupational therapy or speech pathology depending on each consumer’s goals and needs. I am based at Riverland General Hospital (RGH), but may travel to another Riverland site, or visit people in their homes as part of the community-based rehabilitation program.

I also assist with a range of gym groups for both inpatients and outpatients in our purpose-built rehabilitation gym at RGH.

No two days are the same — one day I might be helping someone regain their mobility through physiotherapy, and the next supporting a patient with speech therapy or guiding rehabilitation exercises in the gym.

Q: What do you love about being an AHA?
A: I love that my role has variety – it keeps things interesting and gives me a real sense of accomplishment.

What I love most though is working within such a large and amazing multidisciplinary team. Everyone brings their own unique skills, experience and knowledge, and I’m constantly learning – not just about new conditions and therapies, but also about people and myself. It’s a supportive and collaborative environment that makes coming to work rewarding every day.

Being an AHA offers so many opportunities to make a real difference in people’s lives. It’s incredibly rewarding to see consumers improve, achieve their goals, and know that you’ve played a part in their journey toward recovery and independence.

ℹ For more information about access to RMCLHN allied health services, please contact one of our larger Country Health Connect sites during office hours on (08) 8535 6800 (Murray Bridge) or (08) 8580 2500 (Berri).

14/11/2025

We caught up with some of our wonderful Allied Health Assistants (AHAs) this week to celebrate AHA Day!

👋 Meet Annette Burt!

Q: What does a typical day look like for you?
A: A typical day for me involves:
🔹 face-to-face work with speech pathology and podiatry clients and, on occasion, their carers
🔹 supporting the speech pathologists with creating resources to be used with clients
🔹 supporting the podiatrists with their clients in the podiatry clinic, including setting up the clinics each morning
🔹 cleaning the podiatry instruments, lab and clinics
🔹 administrative work such as ordering and receiving supplies.

Q: What do you love about being an AHA?
A: I love knowing that I support both the clinicians, clients and their carers in various ways to meet their goals and that my work is valued by all parties.

I love the fact that I work with children in speech pathology, and the challenges and rewards that come along with this.

I love the fact that my knowledge is forever expanding as I interact and support clinicians.

ℹ For more information about access to RMCLHN allied health services, please contact one of our larger Country Health Connect sites during office hours on (08) 8535 6800 (Murray Bridge) or (08) 8580 2500 (Berri).

13/11/2025

We caught up with some of our wonderful Allied Health Assistants (AHAs) this week to celebrate AHA Day!

👋 Meet Donna Pippos!

Q: What does a typical day look like for you?
A: I mainly work in the Transition Care Programme (TCP) but also work in occupational therapy and speech pathology one day a week.

I help clients with daily personal care, mobility exercises, and social activities while keeping detailed records and reporting any health changes to the care team.

I support clients with practical tasks like shopping and appointments, plus attend weekly team meetings to ensure everyone gets the best possible care.

Q: What do you love about being an AHA?
A: It is meaningful work and very rewarding, and you get to learn new things and work with a supportive team.

This role allows you to constantly learn new skills, this could be through training or taking on different challenges. The opportunity to directly impact a consumer’s wellbeing and support them on their journey to recovery is incredibly rewarding.

Being an AHA is not just a job for me, it’s a passion that fuels my dedication to providing compassionate care and improving the quality of life for those I have the privilege to serve.

ℹ For more information about access to RMCLHN allied health services, please contact one of our larger Country Health Connect sites during office hours on (08) 8535 6800 (Murray Bridge) or (08) 8580 2500 (Berri).

For information about TCP visit bit.ly/TCPinformation

13/11/2025

12/11/2025

Forget the snag in bread, gimme the BAKED GOODS! 🤩

🌞 The Murray Bridge Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital (MBSMH) Sunshiner Volunteers hosted a baked goods stall with delicious homemade goodies on Saturday at Bunnings. 😋

It was a successful day of fundraising for MBSMH.

Well done to everyone involved!

📸 Picture one: Sunshiner Volunteers Tanya and Stephen.
📸 Picture two: Sunshiner Volunteers Tanya, Heather, Maureen and Lois.

11/11/2025

🥳 It’s Allied Health Assistant (AHA) Day!

BIG shout out to all our wonderful AHAs working across the Local Health Network (RMCLHN).

AHAs work under the direction of a supervising Allied Health Professional (AHP), such as a physiotherapist, to provide consumers care and support with specific therapy goals and treatment plans.

Thank you to all our AHAs for supporting our staff, consumers and communities, today and every day – you are an extremely valuable part of our Allied Health Team 💓

Stay tuned - we'll be shining a spotlight on some of our amazing AHAs throughout this week 💙

📸 Picture one: Riverland AHA team members Chris Woods, Tracy Walding, Tanya Watson, Heather Mosig, Angela Rowe and Donna Pippos.
📸 Picture two: Murray Bridge AHA team Annette Burt and Tegan Thoams.

11/11/2025

Hundreds of hand-crocheted poppies lined the Murray Bridge Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital’s (MBSMH) entrance today to commemorate Remembrance Day. ❤️

The poppies were crocheted and donated by the MBSMH Sunshiner Volunteers and Clinical and Workforce Nursing and Midwifery Director (and former Director of Nursing and Midwifery), Sharon Harrison, in 2021.

10/11/2025

Today on Remembrance Day we remember all Australians who have lost their lives in wars or conflicts.

At 11am, staff, consumers and communities across the Riverland Mallee Coorong Local Health Network will mark the occasion with a minute silence, to reflect upon our history and the sacrifices made.

08/11/2025

Food Recall Alert - Parilla Fresh various alfalfa sprout products

Aussie Sprouts Alfalfa Sprouts 125g
Hugo's Alfalfa Onion & Garlic Sprouts 125g
Hugo's Alfalfa Radish Sprouts 125g
Hugo's Alfalfa & Onion Sprouts 125g
Hugo's Salad Sprouts 125g
Hugo's Alfalfa & Broccoli Sprouts 125g
Hugo's Trio Sprouts Selection 125g

Parilla Fresh are conducting a recall of the above product(s). The product(s) have been available for sale in Woolworths and Coles in NSW, ACT, QLD, VIC, SA, NT, independent grocers including IGA in NSW, Harris Farm in NSW, ACT, VIC, Sydney Markets in NSW, and Melbourne Markets in VIC.

Date marking: All use by dates up to and including 20 11 25

The recall is due to the presence of potential microbial (salmonella) contamination.

For more information see: https://www.foodstandards.gov.au/industry/foodrecalls/recalls/Pages/default.aspx