ABC has established “After the Deluge”, a web-place where Queenslanders can share their stories of recovery after the floods.
Further to the previous Croakey post suggesting the floods afford an opportunity for some research into the public health impact and management of such events, perhaps this website suggests another opportunity for research.
It seems there might be many interesting issues to pursue around the intersection between social media, disaster recovery and public health.
Meanwhile, as the previous post mentions, Theodore GP Dr Bruce Chater and his wife/practice manager Anne, have been hit hard by the floods.
Anne has written an evocative, and (dare I say) drily observed piece for the ABC site.
To give you a sense of the flavour (from a section describing her first visit back to the surgery, after its mud-bath):
…The Queensland Health fellow shows me the inner workings of the X-ray unit.
How does anyone put circuit boards like that together in the first place?
But I’ll ponder the intricacies of electrical engineering maybe in another life.
But for now, the bottom line is it’s probably stuffed. Bit of a bugger really considering it cost us $90,000 and is less than a year old.
Anyway, enough words, other than to say the maggots and I sorted each other out and I won.
Her article speaks volumes for the sort of no-nonsense, just get-in-and-do-it type of service that the Chaters and co have provided to the community of Theodore.
They were due to host a big community event later this month to mark their 30th anniversary in the town. I don’t suppose it will be quite the thing that they started out planning.
I’ve sometimes thought that if I had a chronic health condition that it might make sense to move to a place like Theodore where the local general practice provides the sort of population-based, community-focused health care that many city dwellers could only dream about finding.
Meanwhile, Medical Observer reports that a Gold Coast GP and the state member for the seat of Gaven, Dr Alex Douglas, has donated $300,000 worth of surgical equipment to the Theodore surgery.
Hopefully, the Chaters and co will continue to keep us posted on their progress in coming months.
