The Coolatai Bush Bash held last Saturday at the Coolatai Community Hall turned out to be a great time for family fun and information gathering.

Co-ordinator of the event, Hunter New England Health’s Primary Health Care Nurse Melanie Press, said about 120 locals attended and spent the evening enjoying music, dinner and each other’s company, as well as hearing a short presentation about stress.

Melanie said stress is linked to many illnesses in today’s Australian society.

"It’s really important for us all to learn how to self-regulate our stress levels. Stress is inevitable, but when it gets out of control it can contribute to us developing chronic illnesses such as hypertension, heart disease and depression.

"Farmers are very good at recognising early warning signs and symptoms of health problems in their stock, or they wouldn’t still be on the land. However they ignore the early signs and symptoms their bodies tell them.

"If we ignore the warning signs such as pain, chronic tiredness, being light-headed, or changes in the appearance of skin spots, we can end up requiring extended periods of time away for their loved ones and properties to fix what went wrong.

"Wouldn’t it be better to avoid getting ill in the first place?" she asked.

Melanie said her position as Primary Health Care Nurse is designed to support people in our more remote rural communities to get access to healthcare.

"We don’t have to live in town to know what we need to do to stay well. Regular exercise, good food, managed stress and regular check ups are good recipes for staying well and away from hospitals," she said.

Melanie said the evening would not have been possible without support from the community. She thanked the County of Barnett CWA group who catered dinner, the Inverell bush band "The Rabbit Trappers" who provided great entertainment, and Landmark Warialda; Landmark Daley Inverell, Elders Inverell and McGregors Ag Supplies Warialda who supplied lucky door prizes.

Many thanks also go to NSW Department of Primary Industries employee Jenny Croft, Alicia Wilson from NSW Farmers Federation and Mental Health Worker Barbara Gilmore from Hunter New England Health, for arranging funding for the evening.