Latest news with #DeniUteMuster
The Advertiser
5 days ago
- Business
- The Advertiser
A pub that launched an iconic sticker and a bush legend is for sale
Most people are familiar with the Conargo pub without having actually ever been there. That's because the pub's famous black and white bumper sticker has long been a must-have for "authentic" country utes or Eskies, Conargo can also thank the popularity of the Deni Ute Muster for that. The hotel, in the NSW Riverina region, established way back in 1853, is now for sale. Aside from the iconic sticker, the pub has also been in the public spotlight after burning down in 2015 and risked being lost to history. Then in 2022, two sets of brothers rebuilt it and are now selling the legendary watering hole as a going concern. Located on the crossroads of Carrathool and Conargo roads, about 36km north-east of Deniliquin, the hotel is on a 7884 square-metre site close to winding Billabong Creek. Michael and Paul Lodge along with brothers Charlie and Bob White, rebuilt the pub as a tribute to their family's connections to Conargo and the hotel. During the 1970's and earlier it was known as the Billabong Hotel Conargo. Neville Lodge, well-known licensee from 1956 to 1980 is credited with changing the name. Controlled for so many years by "mine host" Lodge, it was the meeting place where jackaroos from various backgrounds met and formed lasting friendships. While the suggested selling price has not been disclosed, agents from CRE Brokers say the sale is a "rare opportunity" to own a piece of Australian bush history. Agents say today's rebuilt hotel blends modern charm with its storied heritage. "This is more than a business, it's a vibrant cornerstone of the Riverina region." Agents say the freehold sale offers both the land and a thriving business in a tightly held market, promising strong value and growth potential. The hotel has a new 100-person function space, stylish lounge, bar, the Peppin function room, beer garden and modern commercial kitchen. "Its iconic Conargo Pub stickers, spotted on vehicles worldwide, continue to cement its status as a tourism draw," agents said. "The business is primed for immediate operation, offering significant scope for growth through events, pub-camping style accommodation, and increasing the service offering to include coffee and cake to service the region's booming tourism." Agents said the hotel benefits from easy access to major highways and is supported by a robust local agricultural economy and proximity to the many Riverina region attractions. "This is an ideal opportunity for owner-operators or investors seeking an iconic asset in a niche location that would thrive with solid social media promotion." Most people are familiar with the Conargo pub without having actually ever been there. That's because the pub's famous black and white bumper sticker has long been a must-have for "authentic" country utes or Eskies, Conargo can also thank the popularity of the Deni Ute Muster for that. The hotel, in the NSW Riverina region, established way back in 1853, is now for sale. Aside from the iconic sticker, the pub has also been in the public spotlight after burning down in 2015 and risked being lost to history. Then in 2022, two sets of brothers rebuilt it and are now selling the legendary watering hole as a going concern. Located on the crossroads of Carrathool and Conargo roads, about 36km north-east of Deniliquin, the hotel is on a 7884 square-metre site close to winding Billabong Creek. Michael and Paul Lodge along with brothers Charlie and Bob White, rebuilt the pub as a tribute to their family's connections to Conargo and the hotel. During the 1970's and earlier it was known as the Billabong Hotel Conargo. Neville Lodge, well-known licensee from 1956 to 1980 is credited with changing the name. Controlled for so many years by "mine host" Lodge, it was the meeting place where jackaroos from various backgrounds met and formed lasting friendships. While the suggested selling price has not been disclosed, agents from CRE Brokers say the sale is a "rare opportunity" to own a piece of Australian bush history. Agents say today's rebuilt hotel blends modern charm with its storied heritage. "This is more than a business, it's a vibrant cornerstone of the Riverina region." Agents say the freehold sale offers both the land and a thriving business in a tightly held market, promising strong value and growth potential. The hotel has a new 100-person function space, stylish lounge, bar, the Peppin function room, beer garden and modern commercial kitchen. "Its iconic Conargo Pub stickers, spotted on vehicles worldwide, continue to cement its status as a tourism draw," agents said. "The business is primed for immediate operation, offering significant scope for growth through events, pub-camping style accommodation, and increasing the service offering to include coffee and cake to service the region's booming tourism." Agents said the hotel benefits from easy access to major highways and is supported by a robust local agricultural economy and proximity to the many Riverina region attractions. "This is an ideal opportunity for owner-operators or investors seeking an iconic asset in a niche location that would thrive with solid social media promotion." Most people are familiar with the Conargo pub without having actually ever been there. That's because the pub's famous black and white bumper sticker has long been a must-have for "authentic" country utes or Eskies, Conargo can also thank the popularity of the Deni Ute Muster for that. The hotel, in the NSW Riverina region, established way back in 1853, is now for sale. Aside from the iconic sticker, the pub has also been in the public spotlight after burning down in 2015 and risked being lost to history. Then in 2022, two sets of brothers rebuilt it and are now selling the legendary watering hole as a going concern. Located on the crossroads of Carrathool and Conargo roads, about 36km north-east of Deniliquin, the hotel is on a 7884 square-metre site close to winding Billabong Creek. Michael and Paul Lodge along with brothers Charlie and Bob White, rebuilt the pub as a tribute to their family's connections to Conargo and the hotel. During the 1970's and earlier it was known as the Billabong Hotel Conargo. Neville Lodge, well-known licensee from 1956 to 1980 is credited with changing the name. Controlled for so many years by "mine host" Lodge, it was the meeting place where jackaroos from various backgrounds met and formed lasting friendships. While the suggested selling price has not been disclosed, agents from CRE Brokers say the sale is a "rare opportunity" to own a piece of Australian bush history. Agents say today's rebuilt hotel blends modern charm with its storied heritage. "This is more than a business, it's a vibrant cornerstone of the Riverina region." Agents say the freehold sale offers both the land and a thriving business in a tightly held market, promising strong value and growth potential. The hotel has a new 100-person function space, stylish lounge, bar, the Peppin function room, beer garden and modern commercial kitchen. "Its iconic Conargo Pub stickers, spotted on vehicles worldwide, continue to cement its status as a tourism draw," agents said. "The business is primed for immediate operation, offering significant scope for growth through events, pub-camping style accommodation, and increasing the service offering to include coffee and cake to service the region's booming tourism." Agents said the hotel benefits from easy access to major highways and is supported by a robust local agricultural economy and proximity to the many Riverina region attractions. "This is an ideal opportunity for owner-operators or investors seeking an iconic asset in a niche location that would thrive with solid social media promotion." Most people are familiar with the Conargo pub without having actually ever been there. That's because the pub's famous black and white bumper sticker has long been a must-have for "authentic" country utes or Eskies, Conargo can also thank the popularity of the Deni Ute Muster for that. The hotel, in the NSW Riverina region, established way back in 1853, is now for sale. Aside from the iconic sticker, the pub has also been in the public spotlight after burning down in 2015 and risked being lost to history. Then in 2022, two sets of brothers rebuilt it and are now selling the legendary watering hole as a going concern. Located on the crossroads of Carrathool and Conargo roads, about 36km north-east of Deniliquin, the hotel is on a 7884 square-metre site close to winding Billabong Creek. Michael and Paul Lodge along with brothers Charlie and Bob White, rebuilt the pub as a tribute to their family's connections to Conargo and the hotel. During the 1970's and earlier it was known as the Billabong Hotel Conargo. Neville Lodge, well-known licensee from 1956 to 1980 is credited with changing the name. Controlled for so many years by "mine host" Lodge, it was the meeting place where jackaroos from various backgrounds met and formed lasting friendships. While the suggested selling price has not been disclosed, agents from CRE Brokers say the sale is a "rare opportunity" to own a piece of Australian bush history. Agents say today's rebuilt hotel blends modern charm with its storied heritage. "This is more than a business, it's a vibrant cornerstone of the Riverina region." Agents say the freehold sale offers both the land and a thriving business in a tightly held market, promising strong value and growth potential. The hotel has a new 100-person function space, stylish lounge, bar, the Peppin function room, beer garden and modern commercial kitchen. "Its iconic Conargo Pub stickers, spotted on vehicles worldwide, continue to cement its status as a tourism draw," agents said. "The business is primed for immediate operation, offering significant scope for growth through events, pub-camping style accommodation, and increasing the service offering to include coffee and cake to service the region's booming tourism." Agents said the hotel benefits from easy access to major highways and is supported by a robust local agricultural economy and proximity to the many Riverina region attractions. "This is an ideal opportunity for owner-operators or investors seeking an iconic asset in a niche location that would thrive with solid social media promotion."
Canberra Times
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Canberra Times
A pub that launched an iconic sticker and a bush legend is for sale
That's because the pub's famous black and white bumper sticker has long been a must-have for "authentic" country utes or Eskies, Conargo can also thank the popularity of the Deni Ute Muster for that.
The Advertiser
12-06-2025
- Business
- The Advertiser
Cochlear launches new implant, downgrades guidance
Hearing implant developer and manufacturer Cochlear is sounding out the market, launching its latest implant and cutting earnings guidance on the same day. Weaker-than-expected sales forced the health technology company to trim net profit expectations to between $390 to $400 million, down from $410 million to $430 million, but still higher than FY24's $387 million result. Implant sales were expected to increase by around 10 per cent this financial year, with growth weighted to the emerging markets as expansion in developed markets undershot expectations. The update came as Cochlear launched its latest implant in Australia, the first of its kind with upgradeable firmware and internal memory. Investors opted to take the good news over the bad, sending Cochlear shares 0.4 per cent higher to $271.65 after dipping more than nine per cent at the market's open. Jenny Young, one of the first to try the new device, was in her late 40s when her audiologist told her she would need hearing aids. Phone conversations were hard, she needed friends and family to repeat themselves and the country music shows she loved had become muffled and unclear. "I just gave up because I didn't know what song was coming on," Ms Young, now 58, told AAP. She initially ignored her audiologist's advice until life became too difficult. "Sometimes you felt excluded, and you tended to exclude yourself because you weren't quite sure what was said, and you didn't want to pop in and embarrass yourself," Ms Young said. After mixed results with hearing aids, her audiologist suggested her for a trial of the Cochlear's new implant, the 8th generation of the device which directly stimulates the auditory nerve, as opposed to hearing aids which amplify sound. The new internal memory allowed users to store their personal hearing settings on the implant, while upgrades could improve the way the auditory nerve was stimulated, implant program director Robert Briggs said. "That's a big change, and in the longer run we're hoping new stimulation strategies will allow better clarity of hearing and better speech understanding," Professor Briggs told AAP. The new device was developed over a decade with the help of Cochlear's 600-strong research and development teams across six global centres. One in six Australians, or 3.6 million people, suffer from some form of hearing loss. Cochlear has provided more than 750,000 hearing implants to people around the world over four decades, and helped children born deaf to hear for the first time. When Ms Young first had the implant, she said interpreting the signals was like learning a new language. "To me it sounded like a lot of magpies talking all at once in my head," she said. But with time and a little patience from friends and family, she was soon back where she wanted to be. "Six weeks after I got my implant, I went to the Deni Ute Muster in the front row and watched my country music," she said. "It has given me back my social aspect, my confidence ... It's just given me a new lease for life." She urged anyone noticing changes in their hearing to get checked. "I just want to suggest anybody that has trouble hearing or think they're having a difficulty - get onto it," she said. "Don't sit back like I did." Hearing implant developer and manufacturer Cochlear is sounding out the market, launching its latest implant and cutting earnings guidance on the same day. Weaker-than-expected sales forced the health technology company to trim net profit expectations to between $390 to $400 million, down from $410 million to $430 million, but still higher than FY24's $387 million result. Implant sales were expected to increase by around 10 per cent this financial year, with growth weighted to the emerging markets as expansion in developed markets undershot expectations. The update came as Cochlear launched its latest implant in Australia, the first of its kind with upgradeable firmware and internal memory. Investors opted to take the good news over the bad, sending Cochlear shares 0.4 per cent higher to $271.65 after dipping more than nine per cent at the market's open. Jenny Young, one of the first to try the new device, was in her late 40s when her audiologist told her she would need hearing aids. Phone conversations were hard, she needed friends and family to repeat themselves and the country music shows she loved had become muffled and unclear. "I just gave up because I didn't know what song was coming on," Ms Young, now 58, told AAP. She initially ignored her audiologist's advice until life became too difficult. "Sometimes you felt excluded, and you tended to exclude yourself because you weren't quite sure what was said, and you didn't want to pop in and embarrass yourself," Ms Young said. After mixed results with hearing aids, her audiologist suggested her for a trial of the Cochlear's new implant, the 8th generation of the device which directly stimulates the auditory nerve, as opposed to hearing aids which amplify sound. The new internal memory allowed users to store their personal hearing settings on the implant, while upgrades could improve the way the auditory nerve was stimulated, implant program director Robert Briggs said. "That's a big change, and in the longer run we're hoping new stimulation strategies will allow better clarity of hearing and better speech understanding," Professor Briggs told AAP. The new device was developed over a decade with the help of Cochlear's 600-strong research and development teams across six global centres. One in six Australians, or 3.6 million people, suffer from some form of hearing loss. Cochlear has provided more than 750,000 hearing implants to people around the world over four decades, and helped children born deaf to hear for the first time. When Ms Young first had the implant, she said interpreting the signals was like learning a new language. "To me it sounded like a lot of magpies talking all at once in my head," she said. But with time and a little patience from friends and family, she was soon back where she wanted to be. "Six weeks after I got my implant, I went to the Deni Ute Muster in the front row and watched my country music," she said. "It has given me back my social aspect, my confidence ... It's just given me a new lease for life." She urged anyone noticing changes in their hearing to get checked. "I just want to suggest anybody that has trouble hearing or think they're having a difficulty - get onto it," she said. "Don't sit back like I did." Hearing implant developer and manufacturer Cochlear is sounding out the market, launching its latest implant and cutting earnings guidance on the same day. Weaker-than-expected sales forced the health technology company to trim net profit expectations to between $390 to $400 million, down from $410 million to $430 million, but still higher than FY24's $387 million result. Implant sales were expected to increase by around 10 per cent this financial year, with growth weighted to the emerging markets as expansion in developed markets undershot expectations. The update came as Cochlear launched its latest implant in Australia, the first of its kind with upgradeable firmware and internal memory. Investors opted to take the good news over the bad, sending Cochlear shares 0.4 per cent higher to $271.65 after dipping more than nine per cent at the market's open. Jenny Young, one of the first to try the new device, was in her late 40s when her audiologist told her she would need hearing aids. Phone conversations were hard, she needed friends and family to repeat themselves and the country music shows she loved had become muffled and unclear. "I just gave up because I didn't know what song was coming on," Ms Young, now 58, told AAP. She initially ignored her audiologist's advice until life became too difficult. "Sometimes you felt excluded, and you tended to exclude yourself because you weren't quite sure what was said, and you didn't want to pop in and embarrass yourself," Ms Young said. After mixed results with hearing aids, her audiologist suggested her for a trial of the Cochlear's new implant, the 8th generation of the device which directly stimulates the auditory nerve, as opposed to hearing aids which amplify sound. The new internal memory allowed users to store their personal hearing settings on the implant, while upgrades could improve the way the auditory nerve was stimulated, implant program director Robert Briggs said. "That's a big change, and in the longer run we're hoping new stimulation strategies will allow better clarity of hearing and better speech understanding," Professor Briggs told AAP. The new device was developed over a decade with the help of Cochlear's 600-strong research and development teams across six global centres. One in six Australians, or 3.6 million people, suffer from some form of hearing loss. Cochlear has provided more than 750,000 hearing implants to people around the world over four decades, and helped children born deaf to hear for the first time. When Ms Young first had the implant, she said interpreting the signals was like learning a new language. "To me it sounded like a lot of magpies talking all at once in my head," she said. But with time and a little patience from friends and family, she was soon back where she wanted to be. "Six weeks after I got my implant, I went to the Deni Ute Muster in the front row and watched my country music," she said. "It has given me back my social aspect, my confidence ... It's just given me a new lease for life." She urged anyone noticing changes in their hearing to get checked. "I just want to suggest anybody that has trouble hearing or think they're having a difficulty - get onto it," she said. "Don't sit back like I did." Hearing implant developer and manufacturer Cochlear is sounding out the market, launching its latest implant and cutting earnings guidance on the same day. Weaker-than-expected sales forced the health technology company to trim net profit expectations to between $390 to $400 million, down from $410 million to $430 million, but still higher than FY24's $387 million result. Implant sales were expected to increase by around 10 per cent this financial year, with growth weighted to the emerging markets as expansion in developed markets undershot expectations. The update came as Cochlear launched its latest implant in Australia, the first of its kind with upgradeable firmware and internal memory. Investors opted to take the good news over the bad, sending Cochlear shares 0.4 per cent higher to $271.65 after dipping more than nine per cent at the market's open. Jenny Young, one of the first to try the new device, was in her late 40s when her audiologist told her she would need hearing aids. Phone conversations were hard, she needed friends and family to repeat themselves and the country music shows she loved had become muffled and unclear. "I just gave up because I didn't know what song was coming on," Ms Young, now 58, told AAP. She initially ignored her audiologist's advice until life became too difficult. "Sometimes you felt excluded, and you tended to exclude yourself because you weren't quite sure what was said, and you didn't want to pop in and embarrass yourself," Ms Young said. After mixed results with hearing aids, her audiologist suggested her for a trial of the Cochlear's new implant, the 8th generation of the device which directly stimulates the auditory nerve, as opposed to hearing aids which amplify sound. The new internal memory allowed users to store their personal hearing settings on the implant, while upgrades could improve the way the auditory nerve was stimulated, implant program director Robert Briggs said. "That's a big change, and in the longer run we're hoping new stimulation strategies will allow better clarity of hearing and better speech understanding," Professor Briggs told AAP. The new device was developed over a decade with the help of Cochlear's 600-strong research and development teams across six global centres. One in six Australians, or 3.6 million people, suffer from some form of hearing loss. Cochlear has provided more than 750,000 hearing implants to people around the world over four decades, and helped children born deaf to hear for the first time. When Ms Young first had the implant, she said interpreting the signals was like learning a new language. "To me it sounded like a lot of magpies talking all at once in my head," she said. But with time and a little patience from friends and family, she was soon back where she wanted to be. "Six weeks after I got my implant, I went to the Deni Ute Muster in the front row and watched my country music," she said. "It has given me back my social aspect, my confidence ... It's just given me a new lease for life." She urged anyone noticing changes in their hearing to get checked. "I just want to suggest anybody that has trouble hearing or think they're having a difficulty - get onto it," she said. "Don't sit back like I did."
The Advertiser
11-06-2025
- Health
- The Advertiser
New implant gets country music fan on the road again
Jenny Young was in her late 40s when her audiologist told her she would need hearing aids. Phone conversations were hard, she needed friends and family to repeat themselves and she increasingly skipped the country music shows she'd always loved. "It was muffled. The words weren't clear, so I just gave up because I didn't know what song was coming on," Ms Young, now 58, told AAP. She initially ignored her audiologist's advice until life became too difficult. "Sometimes you felt excluded, and you tended to exclude yourself because you weren't quite sure what was said, and you didn't want to pop in and embarrass yourself," Ms Young said. After mixed results with hearing aids, her audiologist suggested her for a trial of Cochlear's latest implant, the 8th generation of the device which directly stimulates the auditory nerve, compared to hearing aids which amplify sound. Cochlear's Nucleus Nexa System, launched in Australia on Wednesday, is the first of its kind with upgradeable firmware and internal memory within the implant. The memory allowed users to store their personal hearing settings on the implant, while upgrades could improve the way the auditory nerve was stimulated, implant program director Robert Briggs said. "That's a big change, and in the longer run we're hoping new stimulation strategies will allow better clarity and of hearing and better speech understanding," Profesor Briggs told AAP. The new device was developed over a decade with the help of Cochlear's 600-strong research and development teams across six global centres. One in six Australians, or 3.6 million people, suffer from some form of hearing loss. Cochlear has provided more than 750,000 hearing implants to people around the world over four decades, and helped children born deaf to hear for the first time. When Ms Young first had the implant, she said interpreting the signals was like learning a new language. "To me it sounded like a lot of magpies talking all at once in my head," she said. But with time and a little patience from friends and family, she was soon back where she wanted to be. "Six weeks after I got my implant, I went to the Deni Ute Muster in the front row and watched my country music," she said. "So it has given me back my social aspect, my confidence ... It's just given me a new lease for life." Her hearing journey has been long and difficult at times, but she urged anyone noticing changes to get checked. "I just want to suggest anybody that has trouble hearing or think they're having a difficulty - get onto it," she said. "Seek help early, because it is life-changing and it improves the quality of life; emotionally, mentally, socially. "Don't sit back like I did." Jenny Young was in her late 40s when her audiologist told her she would need hearing aids. Phone conversations were hard, she needed friends and family to repeat themselves and she increasingly skipped the country music shows she'd always loved. "It was muffled. The words weren't clear, so I just gave up because I didn't know what song was coming on," Ms Young, now 58, told AAP. She initially ignored her audiologist's advice until life became too difficult. "Sometimes you felt excluded, and you tended to exclude yourself because you weren't quite sure what was said, and you didn't want to pop in and embarrass yourself," Ms Young said. After mixed results with hearing aids, her audiologist suggested her for a trial of Cochlear's latest implant, the 8th generation of the device which directly stimulates the auditory nerve, compared to hearing aids which amplify sound. Cochlear's Nucleus Nexa System, launched in Australia on Wednesday, is the first of its kind with upgradeable firmware and internal memory within the implant. The memory allowed users to store their personal hearing settings on the implant, while upgrades could improve the way the auditory nerve was stimulated, implant program director Robert Briggs said. "That's a big change, and in the longer run we're hoping new stimulation strategies will allow better clarity and of hearing and better speech understanding," Profesor Briggs told AAP. The new device was developed over a decade with the help of Cochlear's 600-strong research and development teams across six global centres. One in six Australians, or 3.6 million people, suffer from some form of hearing loss. Cochlear has provided more than 750,000 hearing implants to people around the world over four decades, and helped children born deaf to hear for the first time. When Ms Young first had the implant, she said interpreting the signals was like learning a new language. "To me it sounded like a lot of magpies talking all at once in my head," she said. But with time and a little patience from friends and family, she was soon back where she wanted to be. "Six weeks after I got my implant, I went to the Deni Ute Muster in the front row and watched my country music," she said. "So it has given me back my social aspect, my confidence ... It's just given me a new lease for life." Her hearing journey has been long and difficult at times, but she urged anyone noticing changes to get checked. "I just want to suggest anybody that has trouble hearing or think they're having a difficulty - get onto it," she said. "Seek help early, because it is life-changing and it improves the quality of life; emotionally, mentally, socially. "Don't sit back like I did." Jenny Young was in her late 40s when her audiologist told her she would need hearing aids. Phone conversations were hard, she needed friends and family to repeat themselves and she increasingly skipped the country music shows she'd always loved. "It was muffled. The words weren't clear, so I just gave up because I didn't know what song was coming on," Ms Young, now 58, told AAP. She initially ignored her audiologist's advice until life became too difficult. "Sometimes you felt excluded, and you tended to exclude yourself because you weren't quite sure what was said, and you didn't want to pop in and embarrass yourself," Ms Young said. After mixed results with hearing aids, her audiologist suggested her for a trial of Cochlear's latest implant, the 8th generation of the device which directly stimulates the auditory nerve, compared to hearing aids which amplify sound. Cochlear's Nucleus Nexa System, launched in Australia on Wednesday, is the first of its kind with upgradeable firmware and internal memory within the implant. The memory allowed users to store their personal hearing settings on the implant, while upgrades could improve the way the auditory nerve was stimulated, implant program director Robert Briggs said. "That's a big change, and in the longer run we're hoping new stimulation strategies will allow better clarity and of hearing and better speech understanding," Profesor Briggs told AAP. The new device was developed over a decade with the help of Cochlear's 600-strong research and development teams across six global centres. One in six Australians, or 3.6 million people, suffer from some form of hearing loss. Cochlear has provided more than 750,000 hearing implants to people around the world over four decades, and helped children born deaf to hear for the first time. When Ms Young first had the implant, she said interpreting the signals was like learning a new language. "To me it sounded like a lot of magpies talking all at once in my head," she said. But with time and a little patience from friends and family, she was soon back where she wanted to be. "Six weeks after I got my implant, I went to the Deni Ute Muster in the front row and watched my country music," she said. "So it has given me back my social aspect, my confidence ... It's just given me a new lease for life." Her hearing journey has been long and difficult at times, but she urged anyone noticing changes to get checked. "I just want to suggest anybody that has trouble hearing or think they're having a difficulty - get onto it," she said. "Seek help early, because it is life-changing and it improves the quality of life; emotionally, mentally, socially. "Don't sit back like I did." Jenny Young was in her late 40s when her audiologist told her she would need hearing aids. Phone conversations were hard, she needed friends and family to repeat themselves and she increasingly skipped the country music shows she'd always loved. "It was muffled. The words weren't clear, so I just gave up because I didn't know what song was coming on," Ms Young, now 58, told AAP. She initially ignored her audiologist's advice until life became too difficult. "Sometimes you felt excluded, and you tended to exclude yourself because you weren't quite sure what was said, and you didn't want to pop in and embarrass yourself," Ms Young said. After mixed results with hearing aids, her audiologist suggested her for a trial of Cochlear's latest implant, the 8th generation of the device which directly stimulates the auditory nerve, compared to hearing aids which amplify sound. Cochlear's Nucleus Nexa System, launched in Australia on Wednesday, is the first of its kind with upgradeable firmware and internal memory within the implant. The memory allowed users to store their personal hearing settings on the implant, while upgrades could improve the way the auditory nerve was stimulated, implant program director Robert Briggs said. "That's a big change, and in the longer run we're hoping new stimulation strategies will allow better clarity and of hearing and better speech understanding," Profesor Briggs told AAP. The new device was developed over a decade with the help of Cochlear's 600-strong research and development teams across six global centres. One in six Australians, or 3.6 million people, suffer from some form of hearing loss. Cochlear has provided more than 750,000 hearing implants to people around the world over four decades, and helped children born deaf to hear for the first time. When Ms Young first had the implant, she said interpreting the signals was like learning a new language. "To me it sounded like a lot of magpies talking all at once in my head," she said. But with time and a little patience from friends and family, she was soon back where she wanted to be. "Six weeks after I got my implant, I went to the Deni Ute Muster in the front row and watched my country music," she said. "So it has given me back my social aspect, my confidence ... It's just given me a new lease for life." Her hearing journey has been long and difficult at times, but she urged anyone noticing changes to get checked. "I just want to suggest anybody that has trouble hearing or think they're having a difficulty - get onto it," she said. "Seek help early, because it is life-changing and it improves the quality of life; emotionally, mentally, socially. "Don't sit back like I did."
Perth Now
11-06-2025
- Health
- Perth Now
New implant gets country music fan on the road again
Jenny Young was in her late 40s when her audiologist told her she would need hearing aids. Phone conversations were hard, she needed friends and family to repeat themselves and she increasingly skipped the country music shows she'd always loved. "It was muffled. The words weren't clear, so I just gave up because I didn't know what song was coming on," Ms Young, now 58, told AAP. She initially ignored her audiologist's advice until life became too difficult. "Sometimes you felt excluded, and you tended to exclude yourself because you weren't quite sure what was said, and you didn't want to pop in and embarrass yourself," Ms Young said. After mixed results with hearing aids, her audiologist suggested her for a trial of Cochlear's latest implant, the 8th generation of the device which directly stimulates the auditory nerve, compared to hearing aids which amplify sound. Cochlear's Nucleus Nexa System, launched in Australia on Wednesday, is the first of its kind with upgradeable firmware and internal memory within the implant. The memory allowed users to store their personal hearing settings on the implant, while upgrades could improve the way the auditory nerve was stimulated, implant program director Robert Briggs said. "That's a big change, and in the longer run we're hoping new stimulation strategies will allow better clarity and of hearing and better speech understanding," Profesor Briggs told AAP. The new device was developed over a decade with the help of Cochlear's 600-strong research and development teams across six global centres. One in six Australians, or 3.6 million people, suffer from some form of hearing loss. Cochlear has provided more than 750,000 hearing implants to people around the world over four decades, and helped children born deaf to hear for the first time. When Ms Young first had the implant, she said interpreting the signals was like learning a new language. "To me it sounded like a lot of magpies talking all at once in my head," she said. But with time and a little patience from friends and family, she was soon back where she wanted to be. "Six weeks after I got my implant, I went to the Deni Ute Muster in the front row and watched my country music," she said. "So it has given me back my social aspect, my confidence ... It's just given me a new lease for life." Her hearing journey has been long and difficult at times, but she urged anyone noticing changes to get checked. "I just want to suggest anybody that has trouble hearing or think they're having a difficulty - get onto it," she said. "Seek help early, because it is life-changing and it improves the quality of life; emotionally, mentally, socially. "Don't sit back like I did."
