The bi-monthly Burdekin Plantation Park Markets are a popular place for locals to find handmade treasures, homemade baked goods, beautiful plants and yummy food, but last Sunday, May 5, marketgoers also had the opportunity to receive a free blood pressure check thanks to Mater Private Hospital Townsville.
The team from Mater Private Hospital Townsville set up their market stall in celebration of Heart Week 2024, providing free blood pressure checks, fresh fruit thanks to Lamberts Fresh Produce, and other giveaways.
Heart Week is Australia’s national heart health awareness week held in May each year and runs from May 6 to 12 in 2024.
An initiative of the Heart Foundation, the week provides an opportunity for the Australian public and health professionals to start a conversation about heart health and take positive steps to reduce their heart disease risk.
A spokesperson said this was the second year Mater conducted a Heart Week Roadshow to celebrate the launch of Heart Week, with the first road trip to the Burdekin held in early May last year.
“While our cardiologists run on referrals, their dream is to see less people suffering cardiac events so this was all born out of their desire to ensure more North Queenslanders are aware of the signs and symptoms of heart conditions, and to discuss them with their GP sooner rather than later so that they never suffer an event in the first place,” they said.
“The Burdekin has always had a soft spot in the heart of our clinicians, with a range of our doctors holding clinics in Ayr regularly and a large percentage of our patients in Mater across all specialties from the beautiful bountiful Burdekin, so we’ve always started any planning around Heart Week in particular with opportunities to chat to Burdekin residents at front of mind.”
The team from Mater Private Hospital Townsville celebrated the launch of Heart Week 2024 in Townsville before bringing the party to the Burdekin Plantation Park Markets over the weekend. Photo supplied
