Parkes Phoenix Editor

During the warmer months, and particularly during the festive season, it can be very easy to become dehydrated. The human body is made up of 50 to 75 per cent water. Water forms the basis of blood, digestive juices, urine and perspiration, and is contained in lean muscle, fat and bones.

As the body can’t store water, we need fresh supplies every day to make up for losses from the lungs, skin, urine and faeces. The amount we need depends on our body size, metabolism, the weather, the food we eat and can be impacted on by reduced water intake, increased sweating due to extreme heat and vomiting/diarrhoea bugs.

Along with water loss, small amounts of salts or electrolytes are also lost. Our bodies are constantly readjusting the balance between water (and salts or electrolytes) losses with fluid intake. When we lose too much water, our bodies may become out of balance or dehydrated.

The symptoms of dehydration include thirst, headaches, lethargy, dark coloured urine, weakness and tiredness.

If dehydration is not corrected by fluid intake, eventually urination stops, the kidneys fail and the body can’t remove toxic waste products. In extreme cases, dehydration may result in death.

Replacing your electrolytes when working or exercising in the heat or if suffering from vomiting or diarrhoea is key to maintaining good hydration levels.

Call in and speak to one of our Pharmacists if you are concerned about hydration during the festive season/summer months.

Flannery’s Pharmacy would like to wish the Forbes community a very Merry Christmas and a safe, happy and healthy 2018.

With their schooling year complete, Year 12 students at Forbes High School are now able to celebrate their results that they have achieved in their HSC, and can all look forward to a positive future ahead.

The HSC class of 2017 at Forbes High School have reached just one of the many milestones in their life by attaining the HSC and Forbes High School are extremely proud of all of them.

Relieving Principal Jason Nottingham said: “It is lovely to see our students succeed and achieve their HSC. Our students have worked very hard, not just over the last twelve months but throughout their entire schooling journey. Being a part of that journey with them and seeing them successfully complete their secondary schooling has been very rewarding. This only comes through strong partnerships between the school, the student and home.”

Students have also achieved individual success in a variety of subjects, 5 students achieved band 6 in a number of courses and 13 students achieved band 5, with some of the students at Forbes High School gaining early entry into university to continue their studies in their chosen career path.

A stand out includes a score of 99 per cent in Mathematics and a first in the State in Metal and Engineering. The school is proud to have one student in the NSW Merit List of All Rounders and another 5 in the Distinguished Achievers List.

“Our year 12 students have demonstrated a strong commitment to their learning in the past twelve months, and all of the staff at Forbes High School are very proud of what they have achieved,” said Year 12 Advisor Damian Byrne.

The Forbes High School community wishes all of our Year 12 students the very best in their future endeavours and hope they continue on a lifelong path of learning.

Taking a break from hockey proved to be a good strategy for a Red Bend Catholic College student who was selected to play for Australia last weekend.

Sixteen-year-old India Draper played for the NSW U16 team at the Pacific School Games in Adelaide in the grand final against Queensland. The strong NSW side unfortunately did not walk away with gold as Queensland won the title with extra strokes after a 1-1 draw.

This disappointment did not last very long as India was selected for the Australian U16 side with six of her NSW team mates straight after the final. “I did not expect it, as I have just got back into hockey again playing my first carnival for a long time.”

The Australian team is touring to South Africa next year in June for an international hockey test match series. “I am very scared of going on planes, but I’ve never been overseas and feel very excited about the trip,” said India.

Her mum Amanda, who is one of the 19 Parkes torch bearers for the Queen’s Baton Relay, will be joining the supporters tour to South Africa. She said India had trained very hard under the excellent coaching and support of Glen Johnston and Aaron Hubbard. “They have always believed in her.”

India, who went to the same primary school as Mariah Williams at Middleton, looks up at her for inspiration. “I always watch her games on TV.”

Going into Year 12 at Red Bend Catholic College next year, India plans to take it slowly with hockey. “After the South Africa tour, I want to come back and rep for Parkes, and try out for state teams.” Her biggest concern is that it is too long to wait for the hockey season to start again in April next year. “I can’t wait, I just love playing hockey!”

By Maggi Barnard