Millions of dollars are to be spent on moving the function Powerhouse Museum from Sydney to Parramatta. The same money could build a new hospital in regional NSW.

There’s also millions being spent on a new stadium and 22 other various projects.

At the same time, we have the Grattan Institute whinging about a few million dollars spent on country roads. It even called it “roads to nowhere”. 

This is how country people are regarded by the state government. 

RI McGregor

Leeton 

WORLD Immunisation Week began and the Murrumbiidgee Local Health District (MLHD) would like to remind parents how important it is to be immunised.

Immunisation is one of the most successful and cost effective ways to help children grow into healthy adults.

Parents and children’s carers as well as adolescents, adults and health care workers, need to understand how immunisation and keeping immunisations up to date throughout their lifetime is important for good health.

The World Health Organisation’s (WHO) campaign focuses on “closing the gap” and reaching equity in immunisation. According to WHO director-general Dr Margaret Chan, “no child should be denied the right to immunisation for unfair reasons, including economic or social causes. All barriers must be overcome”.

Worldwide there have been recent achievements in immunisation, such as the phased introduction of a new polio vaccination regime, which represents a critical step towards a polio-free world. There has also been some exciting innovations, including progress on making vaccines against Ebola, malaria and dengue available.

In Australia, free vaccinations from the National Immunisation Program are provided to children (at two, four, six, 12, 18 months and four years), adolescents (year 7 at school) and older people (Aboriginal people over 50 and others over 65 years). 

Additionally free vaccines are available to people with specific medical conditions. People should ask their GP if they are eligible for free vaccines.

To make things easier to track when your children’s vaccinations are due, NSW Health has a free “save the date” smartphone app, which is a handy resource that sends personalised reminders to parents when their children’s vaccinations are due.

Tracey Oakman 

Director public health

MLHD

HERITAGE item owners and managers in Leeton shire are urged to apply for a NSW government heritage activation grant to rejuvenate local heritage places.

More than 2.6 million of funding will be available each financial year for three years to owners and managers of local heritage items through the program. Heritage activation grants are open to owners and managers of heritage items listed on their council’s local heritage registers.

These items have already had their heritage values assessed and we want to provide ways of making it easier to open these spaces to the community.

The grants provide funding for local government, businesses and community organisations to reactivate and animate local heritage spaces to preserve their heritage significance. Applications close June 27. 

Adrian Piccoli

Member for Murray