Wrote this yesterday. Mobile range and internet access where we’ve been the last four days has been limited hence the delay in posting this.

Literally on the road to Birdsville from Bedourie on Sunday and obviously not driving myself at the mo, Lenny is.
Just had a couple of hours with Jeannie the reliever at Bedourie who has also worked a lot in the NT so connections in common.
Last wrote from Barcy as the locals call Barcaldine. Before leaving there two days ago met with Mark the DON, who also showed us around the extensive facility saying that one of the biggest issues is growing their own nursing staff and they have an ongoing program with local school kids to help try and change this to a degree. Lenny luckily spent time with Andrew the Acting Aboriginal Health Coordinator. The local Indigenous population tends to access the local the Aboriginal Corporation run by the Red Cross he said.
Headed off for what we found to be the delightful Blackall Hospital with itís ground level, curved, verandah-surrounded structure! Frankie the new DON there is a member and like everyone just lovely to meet and spend time with these folk. She said at the moment they were managing staffing levels with only one agency nurse and she attributed a lot of this to the flexibility of the staff. One of the nursing staff we met was up with her husband from Victoria for a while and has done the same in various places in the NT
Thereís looking like big changes in the area with coal and gas reserves having been found.
About 40 kms before Isisford came across a wee bearded-type dog obviously lost. Felt like picking him up and taking him to town but no room and maybe the owners would be back. Didnít take a drink but didnít feel too good looking back in the mirror to see him standing looking bewildered after the car.
Not long after that came across eight Australian Bustards, having also seen a group of four the previous day. Most Iíve ever seen that I can recall ñ just pairs in the past. They have a real arrogant air about them.
Isisford PHC centre again an old building that is apparently being slowly replaced. They still had a big-wheeled canvas ambulance stretcher in their historical area. Alex the Barcaldine-based reliever had just taken over from Phillip the current resident DON that day. Like other single nurse posts very reliant on the OSO for cleaning and ambulance driving during the week.
The Yellowbelly Fishing Comp was about to start for the weekend..
The stop for that night was Jundah another 200kms heading out to the Longreach road. Lots of green, emus again, and kangaroos mainly Euros and Greys as well as sheep and cattle. The jump up and forest at sunset just before our destination was beautiful.
Sue met us outside the extensive garden and PHC complex and then after unpacking we were off to the local pub for tea with her hubby Dennis too. Meeting some of the locals including a lady born in the area and apart from holidays still there at 81. We met an English backpacker working there as we did at Bedourie where there is also a woman from Paris. Apparently advertising is done in the cities to attract these workers.
One of the big changes in the area is the cancelled Russian kangaroo meat exports, as there are a considerable number of shooters in the area. Needless to say this will have a domino affect on the surrounding areas.
Left crossing the Thompson River like many waterways weíve crossed still with water in it and travellers fishing and staying for various lengths of time and several years in a row according to locals.
SoÖ to yesterday we left Sue after a pikelet morning tea and headed to Windorah to Susan a reliever and her three dogs. She has worked remote for years in Queensland including the Torres Strait and Gulf. Learnt about FROGS from her = Flying Remote OBs/Gynes Service!
To today, and itís our slowest one so far with under 200kms to Birdsville staying at the health centre there. Like all roads so far really interesting and changing country - grassland, gibber and wetlands with Darter, a Yellow Spoonbill, Pelicans and such. Which reminds me at the motel last night the Fairy Martins had built amazing nests under the eaves and were flat out this morning circling, ducking and diving.
Long day tomorrow going to Quilpie but thatís ok will get to connect with them the following morning before heading to Thargomindah then Cunnamulla.
You know weíve come across some amazing trees between Boulia and Winton that Iíve heard also grow south east of Alice and also 12km north of Birdsville. Apparently the only known three patches of Acacia peuce, a wattle harking back to the Ice Age. Yet another amazing thing Iíve found out on this adventure. Very slow growing and resistant to fire.
Catch ya