![ON TRACK: From left: Gomeroi Gaaynggal's Dr Tracy Schumacher, Lyniece Keogh, Kate Sutherland, Paris Knox, Associate Professor Kym Rae and Jodie Herden. Photo: Supplied ON TRACK: From left: Gomeroi Gaaynggal's Dr Tracy Schumacher, Lyniece Keogh, Kate Sutherland, Paris Knox, Associate Professor Kym Rae and Jodie Herden. Photo: Supplied](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/pMXRnDj3SUU44AkPpn97sC/22cc64de-722e-499a-8c91-ab9bcc19a696.jpg/r0_0_1900_1342_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
A TAMWORTH program for expectant Indigenous mothers has been saved from the brink following the donation of a new ultrasound machine.
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The Gomeroi Gaaynggal Centre’s research “was in jeopardy” after its old scanning unit perished, but a combined fundraising effort by a number of groups has kept the program alive.
To secure the new machine, The University of Newcastle provided $50,000 via its Faculty of Health and Medicine, and Research and Innovation division, Tamworth residents Tony and Karen Haggarty gave almost $16,000, the Bloomfield Group a further $10,000 , while Tamworth Rugby Union Club donated the final $8,200.
“I’d been incredibly worried about it because our research was in absolute jeopardy,” Program Director Kym Rae said.
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“We’d done so much work to build up the study and, without the ultrasound, we risked losing the buy-in of our pregnant mums and the community.”
Mothers in the project undergo three scans – the first to determine pregnancy timing, the second ensure the baby is developing as they should, and the final to look at growth and well-being.
“Many babies in Indigenous communities are born small and can have a condition called intrauterine growth retardation, which can be picked up during the final ultrasound,” Assoc Prof Rae said.
“From a research perspective, we can also look at kidney development and make sure they’re on track.”