The provision of water supplies to Aboriginal people in South Australia, particularly to communities covered under the Commonwealth-State (South Australia) Bilateral Agreement 1 is considered world class in terms of the suitability of the technology to the remoteness of many of the communities and the harsh arid environment.This article explores the history of domestic water supplies to these Aboriginal communities.The article begins with a brief outline of pre-contact Aboriginal technologies for the maintenance of water supplies and reflects on the continuity of these approaches through the early years of pastoralist and missionary settlement.This is followed by a description of the services offered by the state and federal governments since the late 1970s to the present.The provision of these services can be divided into three distinct phases: the initial installation of state government infrastructure beginning in 1979 following the transfer from mission to government control; the appropriate technology phase from 1989 to 2000; and the mainstreaming phase from 2000 to 2009.The provision of essential services to any population is influenced by various political events.In the case of water supplies to Aboriginal communities three events are examined: the impact of the National Competition Policy on the work of the Essential Services Team, the Department of State Aboriginal Affairs (DOSAA) Strategic Plan on water supplies in Aboriginal communities in 2000, and planning for the National Water Initiative in 2005. Methodology

Policy ideology in Aboriginal affairs is caught between left wing rights versus right wing responsibility arguments. Taking the radical centre position of mutual rights and responsibilities espoused by Pearson and applying it to the National Water Initiative, Eileen Willis, Meryl Pearce, Carmel McCarthy, Fiona Ryan and Ben Wadham demonstrate the way in which one Aboriginal community, Yarilena, situated in an arid and remote region of South Australia, has met the challenge. They show the initiatives instigated by the community that are applicable to other Aboriginal settings, and the challenges facing governments who take seriously the policy formulation of mutual obligation within the Pearson framework.

Phaeochromocytoma is a rare catecholamine‐secreting tumour that may arise at any age, but is particularly unusual in childhood. The case of a 6‐year‐old girl who presented with a prolonged history of general malaise, headaches and abdominal pain is reported. On examination, she was noted to have malignant hypertension. Subsequent imaging of the abdomen demonstrated a left adrenal mass, with the diagnosis of phaeochromocytoma being confirmed by serial raised urinary metanephrines. Sympathetic blockade was established prior to definitive surgical treatment, resulting in complete resolution of the patient's symptoms and hypertension. Genetic screening of the family has since identified a previously undocumented missense mutation in the patient's VHL gene. The case raises the importance of routine measurement of blood pressure in all paediatric patients regardless of age, presentation or other factors.

ISSUE ADDRESSED:The implications of the high cost of water on the poverty and subsequent health of Aboriginal residents in a remote community in Australia. METHODS:During 2003, a focus group session was held with adults at Umoona Aboriginal community in South Australia. Participants were asked to comment on key issues of concern in the provision of the domestic water supply. RESULTS:The Umoona community members in Coober Pedy identified the high cost of water and electricity as key hardship factors. CONCLUSIONS:Plans under the National Water Initiative to move to full cost recovery for water and the privatisation of public utilities may result in increased hardship for low-income groups such as Aboriginal people. Utility stress (difficulties paying water, electricity, gas or telephone accounts by the due date) increases poverty and relative deprivation, both key factors in the social determinants of health. Increased community service obligations (CSO) and rebates need to be made available to all low-income groups in order to reduce the negative impact of poverty.