Health & medicine

Broome: Inquest into Balgo man’s death in custody

An inquest into the death of a 24yo Balgo man who died in police custody commenced yesterday.

The man had been arrested and taken to hospital, but he left the hospital and was picked up again by police who left him unattended in the lockup where he suffered a brain haemmorage.

The West Australian [read this story]

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Tuesday, August 31st, 2010 Aboriginal, Broome, Police and courts No Comments

Derby: Man’s death ‘proves’ Curtin ‘not safe’

Critics of Curtin detention centre say a man’s death proves the centre is too remote from proper care.

The asylum seeker, who was airlifted to Perth over the weekend, is believed to have died of a heart attack.

The Australian [read this story]

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Wednesday, August 25th, 2010 Derby No Comments

Biting insects warning with the full moon

Full moonTourists and newcomers to coastal areas are warned to avoid small biting insects on full-moon nights.

ABC [read this story]

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Tuesday, August 24th, 2010 Broome, Derby, Environment No Comments

Kimberley ‘tops kidney disease rate’ for Australia

Kimberley people have one of Australia’s highest rates of kidney disease, says Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services Council.

WAToday [read this story]

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Tuesday, August 24th, 2010 Aboriginal No Comments

Balgo: Sorry Camp for young petrol sniffer

Balgo is in mourning for a young man found dead near Halls Creek rubbish tip.

The Kimberley Echo interviews local cultural health service Palyalatju Maparnpa.

Kimberley Echo [read this story]

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Friday, August 20th, 2010 Aboriginal, Government, Halls Creek No Comments

Halls Creek: Profile of a teenaged petrol sniffer

This is a long and provoking profile of the 18yo Balgo petrol sniffer found dead near Halls Creek tip.

ABC [read this story]

His case has led to calls to make rehabilitiation programs compulsory in WA, as they are in the Northern Territory.

ABC [read this story]

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Saturday, August 14th, 2010 Aboriginal, Halls Creek, Police and courts No Comments

Halls Creek: Minister knew petrol sniffer was at risk

WA’s Mental health minister said he knew a dead man found near Halls Creek tip was “at risk”.

The 18yo Balgo man had discharged himself from a Northern Territory rehabilitation program in May, when the service he had been using wrote to the minister’s office in Perth.

ABC [read this story]

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Saturday, August 14th, 2010 Aboriginal, Halls Creek No Comments

Kununurra: Woman charged with theft from elderly patient

A young woman is charged with stealing cash from an elderley woman she shared a hospital ward with.

ABC [read this story]

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Friday, August 13th, 2010 Kununurra, Police and courts No Comments

Halls Creek: Mystery body was young petrol sniffer

Police have identified a body found decomposing in water last month as that of a young petrol sniffer.

The 18-year-old man is said to have been wandering the region, deranged and homeless, for several years since his mother died and to have had access to petrol from machinery discarded at the town’s tip.

ABC [read this story]

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Wednesday, August 11th, 2010 Halls Creek, Police and courts No Comments

Kalumburu: School breakfast program

Kalumburu kids are getting a nutritious breakfast before school, thanks to Foodbank, local teachers and Perkins Shipping Group.

There are also breakfast programs at Oombulgurri, Wyndham, Kununurra,  Warmun, Halls Creek,  Ringer Soak, Mulan, Billiluna and Balgo.

Kimberley Echo [read this story]

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Sunday, August 8th, 2010 Aboriginal, Halls Creek, Kununurra, Wyndham No Comments