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Talitha

April 24, 2019
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Volunteers Care

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Volunteers Care

Support is on hand when you need it

You’ve received a call back to BreastScreen Ipswich Service and you are fearing the worst. Wondering what chemotherapy is like and how long you might have to endure it for and all of a sudden you’ve talked your way into a diagnosis. You are spiralling understandably and look up from your magazine for some support. You’ve got it in the Ipswich Hospital Foundation Volunteers. The support team is at the Ipswich Service every Thursday to lend a caring ear for patients who have been called back for second appointments.

Glenda and Lorraine of the IHF Volunteer team have been working with the service for over a year now.

“We love being here to support the women and the service, listening to their stories and help them through a moment in their life that sometimes isn’t so pleasant,” they said.

“Volunteering really is so satisfying and varied and it is a privilege to be with the women during this process – we’ve made a lot of friends!

BreastScreen Queensland – Ipswich Service Nurse Unit Manager Nicola Godfrey said Glenda and Lorraine were a wonderful addition to the BreastScreen team.

“Glenda and Lorraine provide invaluable support and assistance to the West Moreton women who attend an assessment clinic, from welcoming women, making cups of tea or coffee and chatting with anxious clients to pushing babies around in strollers.

“They are ambassadors for our BreastScreen service, promoting our service to friends, family, other volunteers and the wider West Moreton community. They also prepare health promotion materials for distribution to the community which is of huge assistance to our team.”

BreastScreen Queensland – Ipswich Service operates both a fixed Ipswich service site at the Community Health Plaza, Bell St and mobile van services to make appointments accessible to West Moreton women, including those living in rural and regional areas.

Ms Godfrey encouraged women to prioritise their health in 2019.

“Looking after your health is one of the best things you can do for yourself and your loved ones,” Ms Godfrey said.

“I encourage women over 40, particularly those aged 50 to 74 who are considered most at risk, to prioritise their health and have their routine, free screening mammogram every two years. No referral is required.

“A breast screen takes only 30 minutes.”

The mobile van will be at the Fernvale Visitor Information Centre, 1483 Brisbane Valley Highway Fernvale, from 31 January to 26 February.

Appointment availability ranges from 6.45am – 5pm (Monday to Friday) and some Saturdays. To book phone 13 20 50 or book online at www.breastscreen.qld.gov.au

 

February 28, 2019
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Ride to Work Day

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Ride to Work Day

Date: Wednesday 27th March

 Location: Darcy Doyle Place Ipswich

Cost: Free

Ride to Work Day encourages the community to ditch their cars and ride to work!  Ride to work via Darcy Doyle Place and enjoy a post ride celebration breakfast of fresh fruit and coffee with fellow cyclists.

 

Ipswich BMX Friday Fun Night

Date: Friday 29th March

Location: Willey Park, Ipswich

5th Friday of the month means Ipswich BMX Fun Night!  Open to all licensed riders.

 

Recruitment 24/7 Ipswich100

Date: Sunday 31st March

Location: USQ Ipswich

Cost: $5 – $100

The Recruitment 24/7 Ipswich100 Bike Ride on Sunday 31st March 2019 offers 100 miles, 100km, 50km, 25km and 5km courses, for experienced riders (100 miles) to families with children (Kids Caper).  This year marks the 20th anniversary of the ride run by the Moggill Mt Crosby Lions Club which has raised more than $1 million funding supporting local charity and community needs.

February 27, 2019
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Does your diet require fortification? with Dee Taylor, Nutritionist

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Does your diet require fortification?

with Dee Taylor, Nutritionist

Fortification, by the addition of vitamins and minerals to foods, aims to reduce shortfalls in everyday dietary intakes. Some people purposely seek out these products looking for a nutritional advantage but on a general level, food fortification provides benefits to people at risk of dietary deficiencies. Vegetarians, pregnant women and people who omit whole food groups from their diet are just a few who benefit from fortified food products. Even if you don’t intentionally buy them, check the food labels on your current foods in your fridge and pantry; you may be surprised to find you already consume them.

In Australia, fortifying certain foods are mandatory to address a public health concern, such as with a population vitamin and mineral deficiency or those that affects a large proportion of the population or it can be voluntary where vitamins or mineral are added to a manufactured product. Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ) oversee the amounts added for fortification purposes and require food manufacturers to supply evidence for health claims on their products and they must be labelled. This is why it is always important to read your food labels – you should always know what you are eating.

Below are examples of vitamins and minerals used for fortification in Australia.

Folic acid – this is a mandatory and added to wheat flour used for making breads, bread rolls and muffins (organic breads do not require this).

Iodine – iodized salt used in bread making (again except in organic breads).

Plant Sterols – these can be (but not always) used in margarines, low fat milks/cheese/yogurts.

Do you need to buy non-mandatory fortified food products?

This is where you need to reflect on your own dietary intake. Do you get an adequate intake of vitamins and minerals in your existing diet or do you limit certain foods that have significant health impacts?

If you drink more juice than milk, you may want to consider looking for one that has added calcium. Another is iron-fortified bread and cereal products. If you fail to eat an adequate amount of iron in your diet through sources such as red meats, lentils, beans or leafy green vegetables having a low-sugar cereal or bakery product that has iron added may help to increase low levels.

Omega-3’s fatty acids are essential for brain development and heart health and can’t be produced in the body and need to be sourced in our diet. They are commonly consumed when eating oily fish, tuna, sardines, nuts, seeds and oils such as canola, flaxseed and even olive oil. If, however, you are vegetarian, don’t eat seafood and have a low intake of plant-based sources, omega-3 fortified eggs, yoghurt, juice and even milk are available. These are only just a few examples to highlight that fortification is available in everyday foods and that you don’t need to look hard to source them. They are becoming more expansive with more and more products are becoming available in our supermarkets – go for a walk down the breads and cereal aisle and you will see you are not short of fortified choices!

Even though readily available, you may still be questioning whether fortified products are right for you? Having a nutritious healthy, balanced diet from a variety of food sources is always the best way to try and meet your body’s vitamin and mineral requirements but this is not always possible. Reflect on your own diet, learn more about what nutrients your body needs and the food sources they are derived – and importantly, look around at the supermarket, read your labels to know what you are eating. If you do however feel you are nutritionally deficient or could benefit from healthier eating habits, consult with your health practitioner or nutritionist for advice on dietary improvement strategies.

 

Information sourced: Food Standards Australia New Zealand.

February 27, 2019
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Fit4Life Changing for 2019

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Change is in the air! Ipswich Hospital Foundation Fit4Life Activities are enjoying some changes in 2019. Adjustments to classes, membership and venues will reward current IHF members and casual attendees for their loyalty and enhance the Fit4Life experience.

Stay tuned to the IHF Fit4Life Fitness Activities group for the detailed changes as they happen. Your trainers will also be a great source of information!

What do things look like from Monday 4th February: 

  • IHF Fit4Life classes are now $7 per session for casual attendees. Walking groups will remain unchanged at $2
  • Monday Circuit will no longer be offered on the IHF Fit4Life timetable
  • Membership will be increased to $21.00 per fortnight
  • Introduction of IHF loyalty card for casual attendees (6th session free)
February 26, 2019
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Volunteers Wrap Gifts At Redbank Plaza

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Gift Wrapping

IHF Volunteers Gift Wrapping to better health!

 

Over the 2018 Christmas period IHF Volunteers prepared beautifully wrapped gifts at Redbank Plaza Shopping Centre so shoppers could shop longer and rest easy at Christmas!

Ipswich Hospital Foundation Fundraising Coordinator Katherine Wyman said the partnership with Redbank Plaza is so valuable to IHF.

“Thanks to Redbank Plaza Shopping Centre for their support presenting the gift wrapping station, they supply the beautiful paper, ribbons and the space!

“The funds raised represent a great success with over $3500 received thanks to gift wrapping donations from shoppers.

“Our wonderful volunteers contributed a total of 276 hours performed by 46 volunteers. Champions!

“I’d also like to acknowledge Quest Apartments Ipswich for offering their lovely space to host our gift wrap tutorial ahead of the gift wrapping service,” she said.

The IHF Sun Protection 4Health Program will benefit from the funds raised, ensuring IHF can supply more sunscreen to the community through local schools, pools and community events.