Mossman CWA end year on high note

QCWA Mossman

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Mossman CWA Members Maree Rutherford, Debbie McPaul and Valerie Geary did a great job as part of their monthly market on Election Day. Picture: Bryan Littlely

President Laurie Taylor and Vice President Carolyn Appleby have just returned from this year's QCWA State Conference with some exciting news for their members.

Member Vicki Dowson put forward a resolution for QCWA to lobby the Government to have the PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) blood test included in a standard blood test for men over the age of 45.

Vicki discovered that a man has to request this simple blood test to check for high levels of PSA from their doctor which indicates that there is a problem with their prostate. This request does not usually happen until the man is showing symptoms of prostate cancer.

As Vicki learned men have a certain amount of PSA in their blood but a blood screen done every twelve months would detect any changes early and as with most cancers the earlier prostate cancer is detected the chances of survival are better and that treatment will be less invasive.

Vicki was also shocked to find that one in six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer before they are eighty-five, compared to one in one hundred and eighty women being diagnosed with cervical cancer before the age of eighty-five, with one in fifty-five men dying from prostate cancer.

We are happy to report that this resolution passed and will now become an issue for lobbying the Government to make the changes to help detect prostate cancer early in Australia’s men.

It seems that Vicki is not only an advocate for men’s health but also a talented author, coming third in this year’s QCWA poetry competition and second in the short story writing competition. Well done Vicki on your achievements this year.

But Vicki is not the only talented QCWA Mossman Branch member, earlier this year Mossman Branch ran a photo competition for members and their family. Pam Whitney won in the black and white and family sections, Debbie McPaul won the my district section and James Westbrook won in the secondary school age section. These photos were then eligible to move to judging at the regional conference and were again triumphant and able to move onto the state final.

Pam received a highly commended award for both her photos, Debbie placed third for her photo and James took out the top spot, first, well done James. Well done to all you budding photographers on your achievements this year.

The ladies who entered are looking forward to next year’s competitions and improving on their current placings and James is looking to go back to back.

President Laurie Taylor advised that the year was coming to a close, but that Mossman Branch are still having their weekly social craft mornings on Wednesdays from 9am to 12pm, there is a small cost of $5 which covers hall expenses, tea and coffee and these mornings are open to the public as well as members.

That they will be holding their monthly market and Hoy afternoon on the last Saturday of November. The market is from 8am to 12pm and Devonshire teas are available at a cost of $5. Hoy is from 1pm to 3pm, Hoy is open to the public and carries a cost of $2 per round. What is Hoy you may ask, just think bingo and you have a really good idea on how Hoy works.

Laurie also advised that they are again running their Christmas Raffle with a hamper for 1st and 2nd prize draw, 3rd prize is a small butane gas camp stove and 4th prize is a lovely bowl-shaped vase with a frog in the centre. Tickets are $2 each or 3 for $5 and can be purchased at the hall on Wednesday mornings, as well as at the November market and Hoy Day and until 11:30am on the December Christmas Market. The raffle will be drawn at 11:45am at the December Christmas Market (no Hoy this day) which is to be held on December 14. Good luck to everyone how purchases a ticket.

And the Mossman Branch would like to extend a huge congratulations to Rita Merrick who won the public speaking competition at state level. Rita is a member of the Port Douglas Branch. Well done Rita.

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