Well, we’re now back in Alice arriving five days ago and feels kinda strange not to be traveling, talking with folk about CRANA and listening to their concerns.
On the way to Menindee following the river from Bourke spotted a couple of parrots ñ the Mulga and Blue Bonnet.
The Emus colour was different from around there too rather than being grey-blue-green they were rust-coloured.
There were lots of wildflowers mainly purple, yellow and white with the greenery. The last wee bit had obviously missed out on the rain as dry as.
Wilcannia reminds me a little of Kalgoorlie and Coolgardie in WA, as I mentioned to Lenny, with the stone buildings a kinda grandeur of former days or plans of a bigger town in the future than turned out to be.
Again being a weekend day just dropped off the package of info at the hospital and will make contact soon.
Menindee has a good feel about it I reckon and lakes nearby add to that. There are also orchards in the area.
Did a bit of a double take when out walking to see a guy on a unicycle!
With the announcement three days prior to us getting there that White Cliffs health facility 95kms or so to the north was to close, naturally there was a huge concern about this at Menindee health centre for the 300 or so people of White Cliffs and the ramifications of this.
From there we followed the highway back over three days. Again, I apologise to Nepabunna, Leigh Creek, Maree, Oodnadatta and Marla for not spending time with you as anticipated. Donítí feel good about that. Will be in touch.
We DID get to visit and share with 30 health facilities though, over two and a bit weeks and more than 7000kms! Thanks to everyone for making us feel so welcome. It was great to be able to meet and spend time with you.
Thatís it folks. Cheers
Monthly Archive for August, 2009
Just left Bourke after a couple of nights there and heading to Wilcnnia via the river road, Louth and Tilpa. Plan on being in Menindee tonight.
Learnt there is just now only a nurse at Wanaaring on Wednesdays and with time running out, decided to not head to Tibooburra unfortunately and therefore White Cliffs as well. Donít feel that good about it and was looking forward to seeing that country but howeverÖapologies to those there and will be in touch when I return to Alice which will be the 5th at the latest.
Since last writing visited the Walgett AMS which is very impressive and was told gets frequent visitors because of that. The CEO is Christine Corby, who is also the chair of the AH&ARC as well as having been inducted into the Aboriginal Hall of Fame as well as having an Order of Australia Medal. We didnít get to meet her as she was away, but spent time with the Practice Manager Kylie Gilmore, who told us Walgett AMS has a list of achievements including the first two AHWs trained as assistants with the local pharmacy, three awards for the Menís Pitstop, coinless condoms and AHW of the Year. However they still have trouble recruiting staff as elsewhere.
Went on to visit the hospital too of course, and met with two RNs, missed the Health Service Manager as she was away at a funeral. Again as elsewhere there are concerns about maternity services.
Lightening Ridge was next and what a shift, shops and signs galore and busier than usual with the Opal Festival on. At the Community Health Centre missed the Health Service Manager so as with a few places since and to come left the package and will get in touch back in Alice to talk through things.
At the hospital the Nurse Manager Liz Greaves had time with us when obviously very busy. She gave us a good insight to the community. Interesting. Here too there are recruitment issues even with itís attractiveness. Usually there are three thousand people living in the area but at this time of year it swells to ten thousand so naturally impacting on a whole range of things in the community. Sheís noticed more Indigenous people moving to the area because of the service access. There is no public housing and there is an increasing need for housing with the movement of people and there are many living in situations without running water, electricity or sewerage. There are extremes in demographics with those who have made much money and those at the other extreme. We saw a couple of examples of housing from the past in the town and the first wee hospital.
Next stop was Goodooga to Martha an RN from NZ whoís been there 4 Ω year and two AINs Belinda and Penny. Goodooga was seriously under threat of closure being announced in July last year to take effect at the end of the roster. Two reviews were done and earlier this year saying that it shouldnít be closed down and in fact should have increased staffing. Then in May they were told it wouldnít be closing. Needless to say there was a huge outcry from the community who worked to keep it open.
To Brewarrina or Bre as itís called in these parts. Arrived at sunset and ran into a Peter Tregonning, who I wasnít familiar with but some of you may well be as he was part of the early days of CRANA. Not long finished two years at Wanaaring and now at Bre. He spotted the car. He was the one who told us of the lack of service at Wanaaring at the moment. Again going to have to get back to the Bre folk. The last week or so have learnt of several services we didnít know about till we arrived in the area. Was told three of the Bre staff are going to the MEC in Bourke in a couple of weeks. Not surprised with the level of concern about maternity services.
The drive that day took us through some interesting country with clay/salt pans and vegetation obviously very tolerant to such but also swampy looking when rain was about which it had been recently so green plus.
Bourke, well got all the tyres replaced apart from the spares. Came across a market down by the river ñjust a lovely spot. Bourke has some lovely old buildings that I wandered about looking at with Ness while waiting on the car and Lenny took a rest.
Didnít realize Fred Hollows was buried here in Bourke. Thereís also a stone wall at the Sydney side entrance to town commemorating his eye/vision work where Bourke played a big early part in his career. Interesting grave of which the photo should be on the blog at some stage soon too.
Think thatís it for now again Cheers V
