Supporting Killarney’s health and community

Cancer touches the lives of many individuals and families. While not every cancer can be prevented, research suggests that at least one in three cancer cases may be preventable through healthy lifestyle choices and participation in recommended screening programs. Cancer prevention is not about being perfect or making dramatic changes overnight. It is about taking practical, sustainable steps to protect your health. Know the risk factors you can change One of the most important ways to reduce your cancer risk is to avoid smoking. Smoking remains the leading preventable cause of cancer and is linked to cancers of the lung, mouth, throat, bowel, bladder and several other parts of the body. If you smoke, it is never too late to quit. Your healthcare provider can discuss medications, nicotine replacement and other supports that may make quitting easier. Alcohol also increases the risk of several cancers, including breast, bowel, liver, mouth and throat cancers. Even reducing the amount you drink can benefit your health. Consider including alcohol-free days in your week, choosing smaller servings or replacing an alcoholic drink with water or a non-alcoholic option. Regular physical activity, nutritious food and maintaining a healthy weight can also help reduce cancer risk. You do not need to join a gym or follow a complicated diet. Walking, gardening, housework and other activities that get you moving all count. Aim to eat plenty of vegetables, fruit, wholegrains and legumes, while limiting processed meats and highly processed foods. In Queensland, protecting your skin is also essential - our colder Killarney days still bring plenty of sunshine. Check the UV level each day and remember to slip on protective clothing, slop on sunscreen, slap on a hat, seek shade and slide on sunglasses whenever sun protection is required. Make screening part of your routine Cancer screening aims to detect cancer—or changes that could lead to cancer—before symptoms develop. Finding cancer early can make treatment more effective. Australia’s national screening programs include: Bowel screening: People aged 45 to 74 are eligible for a free home bowel screening test every two years. People aged 45 to 49 can request their first kit, while those aged 50 to 74 are generally sent one automatically. When bowel cancer is found early, more than 90% of cases can be successfully treated. Breast screening: Women over 40 can access a free mammogram every two years, with women aged 50 to 74 actively invited to participate through BreastScreen Australia. Cervical screening: Women and people with a cervix aged 25 to 74 are invited to have a Cervical Screening Test every five years. A self-collection option is also available for many participants. Lung screening: Australia’s National Lung Cancer Screening Program is available for eligible people at high risk of lung cancer. It uses a low-dose CT scan to look for early lung cancer in people who do not have symptoms. Speak with your healthcare provider if you have a history of smoking and think you may be eligible. Screening is intended for people without symptoms. If you notice a new lump, unexplained bleeding, a persistent cough, changes in bowel habits, unexplained weight loss, a changing mole or any other unusual or persistent change in your body, do not wait for your next screening test. Make an appointment with your healthcare provider. Start with one small step Cancer prevention does not need to feel overwhelming. Start with one achievable action: complete the screening kit sitting at home, book an overdue health check, take a daily walk, reduce your alcohol intake, arrange a skin check or ask for support to stop smoking. Your personal risk can be affected by your age, family history, previous health conditions and lifestyle. Regular health checks provide an opportunity to discuss which screening tests and preventive health measures may be appropriate for you. Small decisions made today can have a meaningful impact on your future health. If you have been putting off a health check or screening test, now is a good time to make it a priority.  Our local GPs at K-Life are all well equipped to help you assess your risk and how you can best reduce your own cancer risk. To make an appointment at K-Life Medical Centre, please call 07 4664 1488 .

K-Life residents, staff and volunteers embraced the colour, creativity and community spirit of this year’s Jumpers and Jazz in July festival. Our celebrations began well before the festival, with residents and volunteers working together to create K-Life’s tree jumper entry. Inspired by the theme of “jam,” the colourful display was lovingly made through many hours of planning, crafting and teamwork. Once complete, our entry transformed Tree No. 4 into a bright and playful festival feature. We were thrilled to learn that K-Life received second prize in the Local Business category—wonderful recognition of the creativity, commitment and collaborative effort behind the display. The project was about much more than the finished tree. It provided opportunities for residents to share their skills, contribute ideas and enjoy working towards a common goal. Every handcrafted piece formed part of a larger creation, demonstrating what can be achieved when people come together. Music was also an important part of our celebrations, with the K-Life Choir performing during the festival. Residents enjoyed sharing their love of music and entertaining visitors, adding to the lively atmosphere for which Jumpers and Jazz is known. Residents also had opportunities to enjoy the festival displays and soak up the atmosphere around Warwick. The colourful tree jumpers, music and creative installations provided plenty to see, discuss and enjoy together. When the festival came to an end, our volunteers once again generously gave their time to help dismantle the display. Their contribution throughout the project—from creating and installing the decorations to packing everything away—was greatly appreciated. Jumpers and Jazz in July is a wonderful celebration of art, music and community. For K-Life, it was also an opportunity to celebrate the talents of our residents and the value of connection, participation and teamwork.  Congratulations and thank you to everyone who contributed to this year’s entry and activities. Receiving second prize was a fantastic achievement, but the greatest reward was seeing residents, staff and volunteers come together to create something special for our community.

K-Life is delighted to welcome Bec as the new Manager of the Killarney Community Pool. Bec brings almost 21 years of experience in teaching, coaching and managing learn-to-swim programs and swimming squads. Having lived in Logan for most of her life, she is now looking forward to becoming part of the Killarney community and bringing her extensive aquatic experience to our local pool. With the pool preparing to reopen in September, Bec has plenty of ideas for programs that will encourage people of all ages and abilities to get involved. Her plans include learn-to-swim programs, swimming squads and Baby Aqua Play, subject to suitable water temperatures. Bec is also close to completing an aquarobics qualification and hopes to offer opportunities for adults and older community members to enjoy the health and social benefits of exercising in the water. Water safety will be another important focus. Bec would like to introduce a Junior Lifeguard program, helping children develop valuable skills, confidence and an understanding of how to stay safe around water. Bec is also interested in introducing Pool Life Saving Sport as an alternative to traditional swimming carnivals. These activities give children the opportunity to develop and demonstrate a wider range of skills beyond swimming speed alone. This can help more young people feel successful in the pool while learning practical lifesaving skills. Away from the pool, Bec describes herself as “a collector of hobbies.” She enjoys dancing and a wide variety of crafts and is a passionate Queensland Firebirds supporter. Although knee injuries brought her own netball-playing days to an end, her enthusiasm for sport and active living remains strong. Bec’s depth of experience, creativity and focus on inclusion will be a wonderful addition to the Killarney Community Pool. We are excited to see the pool reopen and to welcome local families, swimmers and community members back for another season.  Please join us in warmly welcoming Bec to K-Life and the Killarney community. Keep an eye on the Killarney Community Pool Facebook page for reopening information, program announcements and enrolment details.

K-Life marked Aged Care Employee Day with a colourful week of celebration, recognition and gratitude—culminating in the announcement that its Lifestyle and Wellness Team had been named a national winner in the 2026 Ageing Australia You are ACE! Awards. The team won the Team – Consumer Focus and Care category, receiving national recognition for its commitment to resident wellbeing, teamwork, collaboration and the delivery of innovative and meaningful experiences for older people. The award was announced on Aged Care Employee Day, held nationally on 7 August to recognise the dedication, compassion and professionalism of people working across aged care. For K-Life, the award provided the perfect conclusion to its Crazy Scrubs—or Outfit— with Personality Week, organised by K-Life’s People and Culture Team. Each day featured a different theme, including Bright and Colourful, Animals, Flowers and Nature, Celebration Day and K-Life Spirit Day. Clinical staff embraced the themes through colourful scrubs, while non-clinical staff joined in with themed clothing, hats, socks and accessories. Residents were invited to vote for their favourite outfits, making the week an enjoyable shared experience for residents and staff. K-Life People and Culture Manager Leanne Fogarty said the week was designed to recognise the personality, compassion and dedication employees bring to their roles. “Our employees bring so much more than their professional skills to K-Life. They bring patience, kindness, humour, creativity and genuine compassion,” Ms Fogarty said. “It was wonderful to see our staff embrace the activities and bring so much colour and happiness to K-Life. Most importantly, the week created many special moments and shared smiles between our employees and residents.” The celebrations also included K-Life’s Thanks for Caring initiative, which encouraged residents, families and colleagues to recognise staff members for the thoughtful and compassionate things they do. Recognition slips were available throughout K-Life, providing an opportunity to acknowledge exceptional acts of care as well as the quiet, everyday moments that help residents feel safe, valued and supported. “Some of the most meaningful acts of care are the little things that can easily go unnoticed,” Ms Fogarty said. “It might be taking extra time to listen, offering reassurance, finding a way to make someone smile or simply being present during a difficult moment. Thanks for Caring gave us an opportunity to recognise those actions and remind our employees that what they do truly matters.” A celebration lunch was held on Aged Care Employee Day, bringing staff together to reflect on the week and recognise their contribution to K-Life and the wider Killarney community. The excitement grew when Ageing Australia announced that K-Life’s Lifestyle and Wellness Team had won the national You are ACE! Award. “Our Lifestyle and Wellness Team works incredibly hard to create meaningful opportunities that support connection, purpose, enjoyment and wellbeing for our residents,” General Manager Andrew Millard said. “To receive this national recognition is an extraordinary achievement for a team from our small rural community. We are incredibly proud of them.” K-Life also extended its appreciation to the People and Culture Team for the work undertaken behind the scenes to coordinate the week’s activities and staff celebration. “Our People and Culture Team put an enormous amount of thought and effort into creating a week that was inclusive, meaningful and fun,” a Mr Millard said. “We sincerely thank them for organising such a wonderful event and for ensuring our employees felt recognised, appreciated and celebrated.” K-Life extends its heartfelt thanks to every staff member for the care, compassion and commitment they bring to their work each day.  The colourful scrubs and outfits may change from day to day, but the kindness, dedication and personality behind them continue to brighten the lives of those we provide care for at K-Life every day.

K-Life’s 2026 Jumpers and Jazz in July tree jumper entry was much more than a colourful festival display. It was the result of residents, volunteers and staff bringing their individual skills, ideas and enthusiasm together to achieve a shared outcome. Our entry, “The Sweetest Jam is Community - Where every ingredient belongs K-Life” celebrated connection, belonging, creativity and community. From the earliest ideas through to the final installation, everyone had an opportunity to contribute in a way that was meaningful to them. Our K-Life crafters took on the role of Creative Directors, helping to guide the design and oversee the creation of the decorations. Residents contributed their time, creativity and knowledge, while volunteers and staff helped transform these ideas into a finished tree jumper. Some people crafted, some helped organise materials, some assisted with installation, and others provided encouragement and practical support. The project also brought together creativity and music. An original K-Life song was written to complement the “The Sweetest Jam is Community - Where every ingredient belongs K-Life” theme, and our residents’ choir performed it for the Jumpers and Jazz judges in front of the completed tree. This gave residents another way to participate and proudly represent K-Life within the wider community.