At Cunnamulla.

Back to when I last wrote on the road to Birdsville a couple of days ago.
Ross met us at the relatively new expansive health centre right next door to the old one which is open for visitors still. I remember a few years ago Kirsten and Jo were the nurses working out of the old building and doing a presentation on their work. Know Ross from Kintore in the late ë90s but hadnít seen him since so good to catch up. Bev arrived that night too as about to take over from him. They do six weeks on and three off. The Diamantina Council owns the health service and North West Queensland Primary Health Care, which is part of the Division of GPs cover the staffing.
Theyíve got the famous Birdsville races coming up soon when the town which usually has a population of about 80 swells to several thousand and going by the tourist stats this year, already itís expected to have an even bigger turnout. Ten extra nurses, two doctors, twenty police and I think 70 extra bar people are part of it all!
Visited the famous pub of course, certainly has character.
Back to Windorah, calling in to see Susan again. She had one of the old local characters with her whoíd lived all his life in the area.
The drive to Quilpie was green as ñ just lovely. Still coming across Emus and now goats.
Weíve crossed a number of the well known kind of legendary rivers on this trip, some more than once. Names like Georgina, Diamantina, Barcoo, Cooper Creek, Bulloo, Paroo and now Warrego. Still a good bit of water about too which is great to see for all sorts of reasons.
At the Quilpie Hopital this morning met the staff at morning tea. Theyíd had a rough day yesterday.

Had a new grad just started who said itís difficult to find a grad placement. There was a nursing student as well. Theyíre light on senior RNs and trying to grow their own. Only one agency nurse at the moment. Had a good yarn with a few of them. As elsewhere relief to get away for training is an ongoing issue.
Thargomindah to Karen a reliever whoíd seen the new CRANA ad on TV as others have. She was telling us that Thargomindah was the third place in the world to get electric light after Paris and London. Apparently one of the fellas involved in developing it in London came there in the 1860s!
Next Bollon, St George and Mungindi on the border.