The Northern Territory news Tue 6 May 2014
NT news
The Northern Territory news; NewspaperNT
2014-05-06
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English
Community newspapers -- Northern Territory -- Darwin; Australian newspapers -- Northern Territory -- Darwin
News Corp Australia
Darwin
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News Corp Australia
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2019C00042
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/250658
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/554033
TUESDAY MAY 6 2014 NEWS 07 V1 - NTNE01Z01MA Protect your pets to prevent heartbreak HEARTWORM has broken out in pets across the Northern Territory, an animal health company has warned. Vets say it is much easier to prevent than treat. Bayer technical services veterinarian Dr Liisa Ahlstrom said people needed to be vigilant because of the outbreak. This outbreak is an indication of a wider issue, that pet parents arent protecting their animals properly, particularly in the cooler months, she said. This causes harm to the animal, other animals theyre in contact with and in the case of worms humans. Heartworm spreads from animal to animal by bites from infected mosquitoes and can then be passed on to humans. Symptoms include coughing, a swollen abdomen, lethargy and a loss of appetite. Symptoms of heartworm are usually not visible at the time of infection and once they appear its often too late, Dr Ahlstrom said. Ark Animal Hospital veterinarian Sarah Vanderstelt said it was hard to quantify how many pets had heartworm because they were not tested before they went on to tablets, and Darwin had a history of the problem. Ive lived in Darwin most of my life and certainly heartworm used to be prevalent 20 years ago, she said. Every dog would get one unless they were treated with a daily tablet. And then with the advent of the monthly tablet and the yearly tablet it is less clear. Ms Vanderstelt said she suspected fewer people were treating their pets. And because it is carried by mosquitoes it can create fluctuations, she said. If you have a wet Wet it can cause a spike in the heartworm parasite. It is much easier to prevent than to treat. Especially if they have adult heartworms, they can end up with heart damage. This outbreak is an indication of a wider issue, that pet parents arent protecting their animals properly It was still warm enough for Brits James Wallis and Elliot Bull and Canadian Matt Sylvestre to have a dip at Darwins Waterfront yesterday Picture: HELEN ORR Darwin glorious as other capitals shiver THE temperature and humidity were both down in Darwin yesterday but it was still an oasis from the cold prewinter hell of down south. As backpackers and tourists continue to arrive in the Top End for the start of the dry season escaping from the cooler temperatures elsewhere around the nation Darwin yesterday maxed out at 31.2C, at 3.06pm. It was a stark contrast to Hobart, which reached a maximum temperature of 13.3C at 9.30am, which later dropped to 11C at 3pm. It would have hurt Tasmanians more to know that Darwins 6.04am low was 28.5C. It was a bit hotter a little further down the track at Batchelor which had a top of 32.5C and a low of 29.6C. Interstate, midafternoon temperatures saw Adelaide rugging up at 17.9C, Brisbane 22.5C, Canberra 14.9C, Melbourne 16.7C, Sydney 20.9C and Perth 19.8C. Weather bureau duty forecaster Rebecca Patrick said the temperature in Darwin was down a couple of degrees yesterday across the Top End. And, it was drier. For the next couple of days we are expecting drier condi tions, she said. Today the relative humidity in Darwin at 3pm was 50 per cent whereas yesterday it was 75 per cent. Were getting temperatures in the low 30s, a degree or two cooler but that will begin to increase a bit more until the end of the week but there will not be a lot of variation. The minimum temperature might be a little less. That seems insignificant when the minimum temperature drops to 22C from 25C but we tropical people get cold then. James Wallis and Elliot Bull, from England, and Matt Sylvestre from Canada arrived in Darwin from Melbourne yesterday morning and were fairly pleased about it. Melbourne was like home, like London. This tropical. This is why I came to Australia, Mr Bull said. Trust this fine crew to deliver Hotel ready for auction action Awards tribute to environment THOSE who help women make the transition into motherhood were celebrated across the Territory and the world yesterday. International Day of the Midwife 2014 was marked in more than 50 countries. Rosie Downing, a member of the Australian College of Midwives, said there was a theme each year that encapsulated what made their profession special. This year, the theme is changing the world one family at a time. Globally we are preventing things like mortality rates, which in Australia are low, and there are many different ways we work, Ms Downing said. We provide the mum and families with comprehensive care during their pregnancy, playing a role in keeping mums healthy. While many midwives will be at work or relaxing on Monday, also the May Day holiday, a dinner for all Darwin midwives has brought them all together across the weekend. A film shown at Deckchair Cinema last Thursday was also among part of the NT celebrations. We put a film called Babies on, which fits with our profession, Ms Downing said. Were sending money to Bumi Sehat (Foundation), which will help those affected by the typhoon in the Philippines. THE Humpty Doo Hotel has opened its auction room early for a charity fundraiser at the end of the year. The rural Darwin hotel is looking for prizes for the Leukaemia Foundation Ugly bartender of the year auction on Sunday, November 16. Bar manager Kylie Boomer Taylor said: Go through your floor stock and backrooms and find us a gem to auction, or offer a service if thats more down your alley. Please dig deep. Call the bar on 8988 1372 with your donations. THE NT Environment Centre will host an inaugural awards night and conference in Darwin next month. The Ochre Green Territory Environment Conference will include workshops, panel discussions and presentations on local environmental and sustainability issues. Speakers include Tay LaiHock, the founder of the Singapore-based Ground Up Initiative. On the eve of the conference the Environment Centre will host its first Territory Environment Awards followed by a film at the Deckchair Cinema.