Blood cancer month
Dear Echo News,
September is Blood Cancer Month aimed at raising awareness of one of Australia’s most prevalent and deadly cancers.

Every day, 53 Australians will hear the devastating words “you have blood cancer”, with a further 17 people losing their life to the disease.

Blood cancer is a significant public health issue with an estimated one in 12 Australians to be diagnosed with blood cancer in their lifetime – the equivalent of 8 per cent of the Australian population.

Australian’s understanding of blood cancer and the signs and symptoms is relatively low, with most people unaware of just how common blood cancer is.

During Blood Cancer Month we aim to raise much needed awareness and educate Australians on the impacts of blood cancer, the signs and symptoms, and who to turn to for support if you or a loved one are diagnosed.

According to the Leukaemia Foundation, the main signs and symptoms of blood cancer are recurrent infections, increased fatigue, night sweats, bone pain, unexplained weight loss, and bruising or enlarged lymph nodes.

Early diagnosis can play a key role in surviving blood cancer, so it is crucially important that all Australian’s are aware of the signs and symptoms and we encourage them to visit their GP or health professional to be examined and treated properly.

During Blood Cancer Month this September, the Leukaemia Foundation encourages all Australians impacted by blood cancer, or those interested in finding out more, to go to bloodcancer.org.au, or contact Australia’s blood cancer support line, Monday to Friday, via 1800 620 420.

C Tanti
CEO Leukaemia Foundation

Indies and Greens make their presence known
Dear Echo News,

As a life-long leftie (social conscience; put people ahead of profits; we have a society – not an economy; lift up those who weren’t born with advantages.)

I’m really disappointed by the Labor governments we have, both federally and state.

Neither understands its roots and neither can read the room…and Albo’s latest “This government’s not for turning” statement on the CFMEU stuff-up in the making was about the nadir.

That’s straight out of Maggie Thatcher’s worst playbook and shows Albo’s simply not able to either be convincing or even to bring people along with him.

He’s just lucky he’s only got Peter Dutton as opposition leader, who also has no idea what people want from their leaders.

At state level, we see a conga-line of ex-pollies lining up at the troughs of the mining companies, imbibing deeply, all the while taking their sky-high pensions paid for by the public purse.

Both McGowan and Wyatt (examples of that) should hang their heads in shame.

Here’s a few modest predictions: over the next decade about 40-50 per cent of voters under age 30 will be voting for the Greens, who at least have principles and can be trusted to follow them on issues, rather than bend to the highest bidder.

By 2035 we’ll see at least a Green and an Independent from each state in the federal lower house and a stronger Greens and Independents presence in the Senate.

That could take us into a need for coalitions in order to form government – probably no bad thing.

On another subject – banking.

When asked for your identification documents (photo ID such as drivers licence or passport) do you simply hand them over, to be copied into the bank’s systems, so that “you can continue to bank with us”?

Why what do they do with their scanned copies?

Is it legal? Should you let them?

I’d suggest that it is neither necessary nor legal for anyone to take a reproducible copy of your very personal ID documents.

They only need to verify your identity.

They do not need to download a copy into their (not very secure) systems. And no one should leave the room with your precious documents.

Senior bank staff can verify your ID and record that with their signature and that’s all that’s required, by law, for them to ensure they’re complying with their obligations for anti-money-laundering and other laws.

It’s time to push back against those who bully us into unsafe practices for their ease and convenience.

P Carman
Hovea