By Amanda Wright The 2025 Federal Budget was never just about dollars and cents—it was about the direction Australia takes in the years ahead. Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ latest budget, delivered on 25 March, makes clear where the Albanese government believes that the future lies: in cost-of-living relief, housing, and a transition to a more sustainable economy. But with an election now set for 3 May, it’s impossible to ignore the political stakes. Is this a responsible economic plan or a budget de
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When disastrous floods swept through the region in February, the town of Ingham found itself in a crisis unlike any it had seen in recent memory with devastating flood waters surpassing the levels they reached in the historic floods of 1967. Amidst the chaos of the floods the local medical practices Hinchinbrook Healthcare and Ingham Family Medical Practice banded together in times of uncertainty and provided a glimmer of light to Ingham residents, demonstrating remarkable resilience and resour
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Victoria grew up in Brisbane and went on to pursue a Cert III in Business Administration while also qualifying as a swimming teacher through AustSwim. Their career path led them to roles as a receptionist and swimming instructor, where they worked hard to fund their Diploma of Arts. Later serving as an editor for a medical journal at Queensland University of Technology, Victoria further sharpened their writing and editorial skills. Victoria's family live in Macknade and moving to the reg
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A striking symbol of resilience and awareness now stands along the highway in Ingham—its vivid blue branches reaching out as a reminder that no one has to struggle in silence. The Blue Tree Project, a national initiative aimed at breaking the stigma around mental health, found a home in the town in July 2023, thanks to a collaborative community effort. Councillor Donna Marbelli first saw a Blue Tree while driving between Townsville and Ingham and knew the town needed one of its own. The search
Read the full storyWomen of all ages face a wide range of health challenges, from pelvic pain and prolapse to menopause symptoms and urinary incontinence. Physiotherapy plays a crucial role in helping women manage and overcome these issues through education, exercise, and specialised manual techniques.
At Performance Physio Group in Ingham, Sonya Bell has dedicated her career to supporting women in their health journeys.
“We can help women with a wide variety of problems, from young women to our older population anything from pelvic pain, prolapse, menopause symptoms, urinary incontinence,” said Sonya.
“As a physiotherapist specialising in women's health, we use tailored exercises, manual therapy and education to empower women to regain control over their bodies and improve their quality of life.
“Whether it's preparing for childbirth, recovering from surgery, or managing chronic pain, we offer personalized care to help women achieve their optimal health at every stage of life.”
For treatment, the most common way to see results is to do exercises, and the importance of committing to physiotherapy exercises cannot be overstated.
"If you don’t follow through, you can’t expect change," Sonya says.
Sonya shared a story of a mother who struggled with returning to running after having her second child. But after six weeks of targeted exercises to strengthen muscles, she was back to doing her 5K Parkrun with no issues.
Strength and flexibility are key elements to overall health, and Sonya said one without the other does not work; your body needs both.
“Flexibility without control and strength is going to cause pain,” said Sonya.
“Hypermobile people have got joints destroyed, left, right and centre. Being flexible is good you also need strength to control that movement.
“On the other end, if you’re very stiff, that is also going to wear down joints quickly.”
Beyond exercise, diet also plays a significant role in women’s health.
"Constipation is a huge issue that affects the lower area.
“If there is extra bulky mass in the abdominal area that can push your bladder forward, and that can mean controlling the bladder is harder, so diets are usually around hydration to keep everything at a good flow,” said Sonya.
Sonya’s expertise extends beyond women’s health, as she also treats musculoskeletal, sports injuries and headaches, low back pain, and neck pains.
Since joining her team in 2020, Sonya has found great satisfaction in her work.
"I like seeing results. When people come back to me, and they say, ‘I feel so much better’, it’s great, but I love it when people say, ‘I did my exercises, and I feel so much better’,” said Sonya.
“I like seeing the physical change. Being able to assess something and say this is the measurement, we do something about it, and then when you can see that it's different and a significant change has happened.
“I get warm fuzzies all over.”
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