MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Penguin News Update.

Headlines:
Hugh sets the marathon Standard; Camp dentistry service brought to an end.

News in brief:
Wireless this weekend; More beef on sale; Governor's new role.

Hugh sets the marathon Standard.

HUGH MARSDEN of Exmouth is the first winner of the Stanley Marathon and has received £1,000 for his efforts. Sponsored and co-ordinated by Standard Chartered Bank, the event, believed to be the world's most southerly marathon, attracted a total of ninety-two entries, including six from overseas. Runners competed in three categories - the men and women's marathon and the relay event. Kelly Angus, fastest woman, also received a cheque for £1,000 while the Football Club's relay entry picked up the £800 team prize. Pictures and report inside. Photo: Standard Chartered Bank manager Nick Hutton presents Hugh Marsden with his prize money.

Camp dentistry service brought to an end.

DENTISTS' visits to Camp have become a thing of the past and residents must now travel to Stanley for treatment. A paper from the Director of Health recommended an end to the costly visits to Camp by dentists and gave two options for assisting patients with the cost of flights for Stanley-based treatment: a 75% subsidy for flights, which is the standard amount for flights for medical treatment, or a 100% subsidy. Executive Council this week chose the former option, meaning a 25% contribution will be made by patients to the cost of flights, in essence a maximum cost of £21. For many years, the dental service in Camp was provided by dentists using mobile kit in the patient's own home or in a suitable room in the settlement. More recently dentists' visits were supplemented by the use of a permanent fixed surgery in a lean-to at the Doctor's House at Fox Bay. However by mid-2004 the house was in an advanced state of disrepair and the government disposed of itby sale. At the same time, the dental equipment and facilities at Fox Bay had also deteriorated to a point beyond acceptable clinical standards and were deemed unsafe for use by patients and staff. This scenario led the Health and Medical Services Committee to recommend in February that patients be flown to Stanley for treatment, with subsidised air travel. At yesterday's meeting of Standing Finance Committee, Councillor Mike Summers said the end of Camp visits would not only be more cost-effective but would also mean, "....significant savings to dentists' time." Olive Aldridge of Hill Cove said she felt flying to Stanley for treatment is "a better option." "The service at Fox Bay was limited - in fact, it was down right basic. They've put a lot of money into fixing up the dental department properly and they've got everything they need in there, so it's a good idea to fly in." She also welcomed the 75% subsidy and said she was not disappointed to hear ExCo had refused the 100% subsidy: "We should have to pay so much, it shouldn't be free. We get enough for free in the Falklands." Rosemary Wilkinson of Dunnose Head said the closure of the Fox Bay clinic did not directly affect her. She commented, "As we don't have a road, we couldn't get to the dentist easily anyway." Mrs. Wilkinson and her husband tend to combine visits to the dentist with planned trips to Stanley and, as a result, pay the full fare for their flights. However she welcomed the subsidised flights saying, "...any help to Camp is a good thing." Leon Marsh of Rincon Ridge was unhappy about the end of dental visits to Camp. He commented, "I would sooner have the old camp dentistry, to be honest. Going into Stanley means two or three days away from the farm and if you have to go in during the summer you can't afford to be away." Mr Marsh said he had not been to the dentist since the Fox Bay clinic was closed approximately 18 months ago.

News in brief:

Wireless this weekend.

THE British Forces Broadcasting Service's Wireless for the Blind Appeal starts this weekend. BFBS will be broadcasting live Island-wide from midday on Saturday, until over 100 donated auction items are sold off. Wireless for the Blind distributes radios to blind and partially-sighted people in need, through more than 300 local agencies throughout the United Kingdom. They are made available on free permanent loan and repaired by the Fund when necessary. (More details of the Wireless for the Blind appeal on page 3.) Other charity fundraisers this weekend include a Children's Fun Day at the Parish Hall on Good Friday in aid of Stanley Kids Zone, an Open Day at Stanley House Hostel on Saturday afternoon and a Fairtrade Coffee Morning from 10 am until 2pm in the Parish Hall on Saturday.

More beef on sale.

STANLEY consumers can look forward to being able to regularly buy beef in the shops. Over the next few months, Ben Berntsen and Riki Evans of Elephant Beach Farm Ltd will be providing beef to Stanley's retail outlets. Contrary to rumour, Ben says, the company is not setting up in competition with Freshco. "We need to move our backlog of beef, it's as simple as that." He said he and Riki intend to have beef stocked in stores at the times when Stanley consumers want it - "mainly after work which is when there always seems to be empty shelves."

Governor's new role.

THE Governor of the Falkland Islands is preparing for a new role - fatherhood. His Excellency Mr Howard Pearce and his wife Caroline, who married in the Islands in October last year, have announced they are expecting a baby. The child is due to be born at the end of September. Mr Pearce said his wife plans to return home to the Netherlands for the birth so she can have family and friends around her for the big event. He added, "I shall of course be timing a trip to the Netherlands to ensure that I am there on the day!"