Handy Household Hints No. 9 - How to fix an umbrella as a temporizing measure!

My very favourite large umbrella, which I was given for helping out at the University of Melbourne Medical School, has come to grief over recent months. It is so large and useful that I did not want to throw it out. So, how to fix it? It was easy to sew back the retaining threads where they had come loose, but fixing the struts was a tad more challenging. Lacking the necessary equipment to reattach them, I opted for using good old cable ties to fix them together so that they could still slide up and down with opening and closing of the umbrella. It's not perfect, but it is functional, so the brolly lives to fight another day!

New discussion group for Wilderness and Expedition Medicine

I've just started a new Facebook group called "Wilderness and Expedition Medicine (de terris ad astra) (From the Earth to the stars!) https://www.facebook.com/groups/1617797711879794/. 

This group has been set up to create a community of people who are interested in wilderness and/or expedition medicine and human physiology in extreme environments, whether that be in challenging environments on the Earth, such as the alpine or polar regions, underwater or at high altitude, or in the context of space exploration. 

Its purpose is to share information of interest, including journal articles, updates and courses and conferences, and to engage in relevant discussion.

If this is also an interest of yours, please feel free to join!

Book Review - "Surgery: The Ultimate Placebo" by Professor Ian Harris

This is a "must read" book - it has a great explanation of how evidence-based science works (or doesn't) and challenges us to question whether doing things "because that is the way we have always done it" is in fact the best way to do things or whether it should be done at all, for instance treating appendicitis at first instance with surgery rather than a trial of IV antibiotics.

"Surgery: The Ultimate Placebo" by Professor Ian Harris (New South Books, Australian RRP $24.99).

Establishment of Victorian High Plains VHF radio repeater on Mt McKay - Appeal for donations

Over the past few months, Alpine Search and Rescue Victoria has been working on establishing a VHF radio repeater on Mt McKay. This is a public benefit initiative by alpineSAR and follows the difficulties experienced by first responders in rescuing a skier who had fractured his femur on Mt Bogong last winter.

The repeater has now been installed and commissioned, with the support and assistance of Falls Creek Resort Management and AGL Energy.

Testing over the past week shows it provides coverage to Mt Bogong, across the High Plains, and to Mt Feathertop, which will provide effective radio communications for first responders in the time gap until Police arrive on scene.

Although alpineSAR obtained donations of some equipment and in kind services, there was some, not insignificant, cost incurred to complete the installation. alpineSAR has underwritten that cost.

Via our GiveNow donation appeal, ee are now seeking donations from members of the public who frequent the area, and might benefit in the event they need assistance, to offset some of the cost. Donations are tax deductible: https://www.givenow.com.au/alpinesar

The appeal page explains the need, purpose and outcome for potential donors, and if you frequent the High Plains and might one day benefit from this new service, then we ask you to consider making a donation (however small) towards the cost of establishing the repeater.

Thank you!

PS I've been a member of alpineSAR for many years and this is a genuine appeal (NOT a scam).