NEXT week the Inverell Community Health Centre will be hosting a week where Inverell residents will have the opportunity to get their health checked and collect a wealth of health information in a fun and informative way.

The Look Great 2008 - Feel Fine 2009 expo kicks off on Tuesday with Seniors Day where there will be a range of expo stands and presentations running throughout the day including an interactive display on making your house safe, where a house will be set up showing exactly how many hazards can be in the home.

Presentations begin at 10am until 2pm and cover a range of topics including gentle exercise and falls prevention and understanding your medication. Family Day starts at 9:30am on Wednesday and is sure to be a treat with all staff wearing costumes based on storybook characters and superheroes.

There will be a free bus running from Tingha, Bundarra and Ashford schools to the Town Hall at 9am and the John Hunter Hospital Allergy Outreach Program will be hosting a stand and will also be presenting information on food allergies, epipens and anaphylaxis.

New parents will benefit from presentations and stands about toilet training, how to play with your baby and toddler developmental stages.

Storytimes will run throughout the day for children.

Thursday is Aboriginal Health Day and marks the first time the ‘Going Bush’ health screening program has been held in the McIntyre Cluster.

Primary Health Care Nurse at Inverell Community Health, Tania Mills said the ‘Going Bush’ program was an excellent way to gauge how your health is going.

“This program is a lot like our men’s health ‘Pit Stop’ program, and is a fun and culturally sensitive way to screen for a range of health problems Aboriginal people can face.”

A juice bar will be operating for morning and afternoon tea on Thursday and there will also be cooking demonstrations through the day.

Women’s Day is on Friday and the ‘Women’s Checkout’ program will be operating for the first time out of Western Australia, modified slightly for the local area.

At 5pm Dr Cheryl McIntyre will be hosting a special presentation on Menopause and HRT. Bookings are essential and can be made by calling the Inverell Community Health Centre.

On Saturday local men will be able to get put over the pits with the ‘Pit Stop’ program, run many times in the past to great success. There will also be a vintage motorcycle display outside the Town Hall and morning and afternoon tea will be provided.

For more information about Look Great 2008 – Feel Fine 2009, call the Inverell Community Health Centre on 6721 9600.