On the way home

How good to be picked up at the finish by the local bus! We're on the way back to Leongatha, having collected luggage from the pile from the truck, and found our bus, packed bikes back in the boxes, and a quick change into fresh clothes. 

We inched past other buses - then I realised I'd left my phone & dry pouch with cash & credit card in the toilet where I'd changed - what an awful realisation! The bus stopped, I ran back - met a guy who approached me - he had them in his hand!! He was on the way to the Bicycle  Network office. Seeing me running, he guessed what it was about. What a nice end to that drama. Actually it's a picture of the sense of "we're all in this together", almost family, that develops on the ride - people looking out for each other.

It rained all night, but stopped for the pack up & breakfast. It doesn't matter that everything's wet! We had light rain for the ride, only 33km today. It felt like hard work, wet and cold. There was a rest stop at a chocolaterie which was fun. Warm & very crowded inside! 

So, the GVBR's done for this year. Will have to keep riding to keep the fitness levels up. 

It was so good to meet people at meals and in queues - some interesting conversations. Very good too, to spend time with Sue, Mick & Deb. We're wondering about another cycling holiday together sometime.

Nearly finished!

Can't quite believe tonight's the last night. We had a great rest day in Mansfield. It was still very hot, so we spent a lot of time in the town, sitting in the shade. Resting!

We wondered how it would be getting back on the bike. It was ok! That was yesterday - to Alexandra. Our group of 5 rode on the rail trail the whole way; actually the police requested that everyone take the rail trail, which some weren't happy about. It's a great trail - a bit rough (not sealed) - narrow & thin tyres are prone to puncture. We saw lots of people stopped at the side, replacing tubes. I got a flat back tyre as well. Anyway, we were in time to join the stretching class (Tim didn't), after a swim, & to explore Alexandra before tea. 

This morning it poured down over breakfast & rained on through the morning- fortunately we had the tent all packed & all our gear was on the truck - we carried the dishes & the toothbrushes in the panniers. 

Plenty of hills today, but the highlight would have to be riding the Black Spur, closed to traffic - what a privilege! And the rain had stopped in time for the road to dry. It was great! That was after lunch at Marysville - still raining there & with our lunch organised at an oval, the community opened up a huge hall, a basketball stadium, putting down carpet squares so our cleats wouldn't damage the floor. It was so good. Great to see Marysville looking good, down the track from the bushfires. 

Now at Healesville for our last night - lots of thankyous and awards; there's a real buzz. 

Rain forecast again for tomorrow - but why worry? It's not raining now!

Black Spur

Couldn't keep stopping for photos! But we loved whole hillsides covered with treeferns, all with striking new growth , and a towering, lofty over-storey of gums. 

Tent city - and a school group having a photo shoot

Rest day

We've made it to Mansfield.  Tim & I are on the GVBR (that's the Great Victorian Bike Ride). The route is from Albury to Lilydale: the scenic route on secondary roads. We're traveling and camping with 3 others, all doctor friends from Nepal days or before: Mick & Debbie Langford, & Sue Smith. We're taking it at our own pace and the pedals go round & round! 

We've ridden 335km so far, through beautiful country. 

Highlights:

* the overnight stops so far: Yackandah, Bright, Moyhu - & now Mansfield. We'd never heard of Moyhu! 500 people live there. The town had organised a great street party with stalls & activities. 

 * weather! We've had hot cycling days mostly. Lots of rain in Bright. The tent stayed dry

* Tawonga Gap! We made it. A steep, challenging climb in the heat, jelly beans given out at the top, a steep descent - controlled by the police - so not too fast. 1.5cm hailstones started on the way down & then the rain.

* we're getting fitter & stronger! No major injuries, but aching muscles. We've joined a stretching class the last 2 days, which has been great. 

* we enjoyed the option of riding on part of the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail. It's an excellent trail, sealed & through lovely country. We'd love to come back & ride some more. 

* the food has been good, & we're into a lunchtime routine: Tim collects the lunch & I get the coffee. We have panniers on our bikes & carry our mugs. (Also useful for transporting snacks). We need to eat & drink a lot, to keep the energy levels up. The lunchtime coffee is a real highlight for me, not least because it's the same family business at each stop, same as least year. I never cease to be amazed at how they're so friendly, & interested in everyone's riding experiences. 

* the queues for everything (meals, toilet, showers, coffee) can be long- but people are very chatty. 

* the organisation of the event is amazing - the set up, coordination, logistics, the volunteers - it's a well-oiled machine, & very relaxed & friendly. 

* it was so much fun to go to a show last night - combination of music, magic tricks, a theme of local Mansfield lore - linking Simon Gerrans, Ned Kelly & the bicycle. So talented & funny!

However. Yesterday there was a tragedy. A cyclist was killed by a collision with another cyclist ("clipped" - knocked off balance by another's wheel making contact), falling & then run over by a passing truck. This has put a somber feeling over everything, and we feel for his family & friends. Life is so vulnerable and can change so dramatically, so quickly.

Today is our rest day. Clothes washing, explore Mansfield, not too much bike riding, a swim maybe; lunch out - it's not provided today. Hoping it doesn't rain too much. It rained overnight, after we were all tucked in for the night. 

Haven't taken many photos! Here we are at the Hume Weir, day 1

& at a rest stop - people & bikes everywhere, reasonably chaotic. 

Two weeks

Well, nearly time to leave. It's early morning and the washing is on, noisy in the background but not quite drowning out the morning bird chorus and the wakening day.

Thinking about my time here, various aspects come to mind

* the team seems to be functioning well, and mostly the same as our recent visit

* it was so good to meet several patients again and to build on past visits. One lady saw me in the women's centre and said she'd like to buy my skirt!

* the community is in fighting mode. It's distressing, not only to us: many people are frightened to come out of their homes for shopping or their regular medicine.  They says it's the build up season (humid pre-wet season), or "mango madness". But it's cast a negative shadow on the atmosphere.  The police sent in the task force, once G20 was over, and things are a bit quieter now. But they say it's a superficial peace.  

* many are concerned that it's the children doing the fighting now, "because they can't be arrested" - there is talk of families sending children out to "fight for us".  And they have shotput sized rocks, and steel rods, off cuts from reinforcing rods.  Significant weapons!

* the main reason for me coming was to support and supervise Andrea, the GP registrar here.  It's been great to talk about medical stuff with her.  She's very capable.  We've been the only 2 doctors, till yesterday - a new locum arrived, and I spent time orientating him and helping with the computer program.  After work we had a drive around for some community orientation.

* exercise! I got sore knees walking in the first week, so borrowed some goggles and went swimming the second week, before work. The water temperature is 31-32deg!  I go home to get back on my bike, with the Great Vic Bike Ride starting in a week!

* the school principal and his wife have been here 3 years; they had planned to stay 4, but are leaving soon, very discouraged, feeling like nothing has changed. 

Change!  How challenging in any context.  Perhaps for some people more than others.  Certainly it's a process to embrace, with creativity, and openness.  Our ideas of how to achieve it may be partly wrong, or even totally ineffective.

Did anyone see "First Contact" on SBS this week? A 3-part series, 6 white Aussies immersed in Aboriginal culture for a month. It's very interesting! Highly edited I suppose, but it raises so many things, and it was great to see the ways they changed.  It was also great to hear the stories of the people they met, and the positive things that are happening, as well as the reality of life in various contexts. Try and see it!

So, I leave here on the afternoon plane, hang about in the airport, fly home overnight, pick up the car and drive home!  Might be home by 9am, which is 24 hours from now!  Feels a bit surreal.. A different world.  But I'm very much looking forward to getting home, seeing Tim, and Andy, Cathy and the girls are coming to stay for the week.  How good will that be!

Noel Pearson's eulogy for Whitlam

In case you missed Noel Pearson's eulogy for Gough Whitlam. Very moving, challenging - an amazing speech

http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/noel-pearsons-eulogy-for-gough-whitlam-praised-as-one-for-the-ages-20141105-11h7vm.html

Back to Wadeye!

Starting this blog while flying to Darwin - heading for a 2 week Locum in Wadeye.  By myself! 

Tim is staying home to keep things ticking over at work in Leongatha.  (and I'm hoping he has time for some bike rides - we're going on the Great Victorian Bike Ride a week after I get home)

It feels quite strange going to Wadeye alone, and I know I'll miss Tim a lot. There is always the phone, and Skype...

We've just had a great week off. We had a flying holiday! In both senses of the word.  We went with our good friends from Warrnambool, Phil & Lynne Carter.  What an adventure! We flew with Andy Kube in a Cessna 210.  Andy is Tim's cousin, and it was great to spend time together.  Andy  did such a great job with the plane and the trip. 

We flew from Essendon, to Flinders Ranges the first night.  Such great views of Wilpena Pound.  

The next day we got to Birdsville, and stayed in the iconic Birdsville Hotel.  An amazing sunset tour to the edge of the desert. So hot there! 

The "waddi" trees are a type of wattle & can live to 1,000 years old. 

On the way to Coober Pedy the next day we flew over Lake Ayre, and stopped at William Creek - a very small town, a long way from anywhere, with a hotel! There's a flying business based there, and the senior pilot made us espresso coffees and then told stories about dingo baiting flights. 

Coober Pedy was so interesting. 80% of the people live underground! Our hotel was underground too. We had a great tour, just our group and the guide, exploring, visiting underground churches, a museum-home, opal mines.  They say there are a million mine holes in Coober Pedy! 

Beautiful desert colours at the Breakaways, near Coober Pedy.

Our last night was on Kangaroo Island, at a lovely B&B with its own airstrip.  And the use of a car for exploring! We were too late for Granny Stirling's Devonshire tea at Penneshaw, but the Thai takeaway was great. That night we watched ".     ". So good to hear of real examples from Northern Ireland, Israel-Palestine, Rwanda.  Real people struggling with such tough issues.  Perhaps there is hope for the world after all.

Pink lakes on the way to Kangaroo Island 

We stayed near American River

Lovely beach - not sure it's the best in the world though 

We flew back to Essendon along the Coorong, and the south Coast of Victoria. Great views of 

Warrnambool, The Twelve Apostles, Wye River, the Heads, Melbourne! 

Taxiing off - our hosts watching the plane leave

Wye River

Such a fabulous trip. It was great to fly low. As I write I'm at 30,000 feet or so. Not easy to see much below! We so enjoyed the desert patterns and the paddock art; pink lakes and the coastline; wind farms and airstrips. Andy's business is A Kube Aviation - check out the website.

So Wadeye is next. I'll be there at 9am tomorrow, which is great, because initially I couldn't get a flight till Tuesday.  I was going to have to work in the Darwin office of the Department of Health, supporting Wadeye by phone.  Not ideal! 

---------

Have now arrived, eaten, shopped for starting groceries - all ready for tomorrow. During dinner, I saw "Muryil", the pied imperial pigeon - Muryil is the name my Yolgnu sister gave to Tim. So that was special.

Ku tek

I walked out to the White Subaru again today - by myself this time. Tim is in Nhulunbuy for the weekend, covering obstetrics (and having a lovely catch up with the grand daughters. And a fathers' day breakfast today). 

I saw 2 girls going back the other way, and then a man, his wife and another lady.  He stopped to talk. He said that this is his wife's country.  I'd just seen a red-tailed black cockatoo, and I asked her if that's her totem.  Yes, it is. Ku tek.  He said, it's protecting you.  He works for Catholic Care, as a drug and alcohol worker.  I floated with him the thought of a controlled sale of alcohol.  He said, "the people need to take responsibility first."  Wise words.

Cycads are ancient plants. They seem to survive the annual burn.

New shoots

And treasure! Orchids grow on them. 

Grog or no grog?

Grog: such a complex issue. The following article highlights the problems: foetal alcohol syndrome, or partial syndrome, developmental abnormalities; domestic violence; mental health issues and suicide.

http://www.theage.com.au/national/-10c9rv.html

Wadeye is a dry community. But it isn't! The white people can get a grog license, and some of them drink well over safe limits. And Aboriginal people smuggle it in. The police try to control it, but they also have to sleep.

Many people report that they drink most days - refreshingly honest about it, but it's concerning nevertheless.

We wonder if abstinence is the best goal. It's failing miserably! What about controlled supply: no more than 4 drinks a day, no takeaways, in a place where we could all socialise? 

Out walking late yesterday: the White Subaru is still there

I walked with Tracy - she's dwarfed by this termite mound

An orchid growing on a cycad - very special find 

Funding cuts

Here is a link to a news article about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders' responses to government policies and budget cuts.  Pretty distressing.

http://www.alsnswact.org.au/news_items/130 

Wadeye - Port Keats

Galiwin'ku seems like a dream now! We've been in Wadeye 3 weeks. I was sad to leave, but felt the whole experience was very worthwhile; at the very least, it was good to facilitate the registrars staying there till the end of their term.  I flew out with them and Jeremy's parents, on Saturday morning - only one flight a day to Elcho.  I got up early, went bird watching, checked in my stuff at the airport, home for the last tidy up - after a swing by the registrars' place to see a recently created bower.

the bower from side-on.  about 30cm high

the bower from end-on.  I would love to see the male displaying there!  See all the green things he's collected.

A lovely beach walk my last night - mine the only footprints on the sand. 

With the registrars, waiting for the plane

- - - 

It was great to meet up with Tim in Darwin! And we had a good weekend there before coming out to Wadeye. We caught up with Julie U'Ren and Dave Pugh (she's Tim's cousin) - and their family. 

Wadeye. The familiar. It's good to be back.  The team seems to be functioning well and reasonably settled. Tracey is an energetic leader. As in previous years, Tim's working in the acute area, and I'm in the chronic conditions area, focussing on catching up with checkups for people with rheumatic heart disease, and also people with diabetes and/or kidney disease.  So there's plenty to do! Sometimes I've found I'm not too busy - partly because people don't always want to come for checkups.  But I've had some great conversations with people.  It's always good to see people we've met before.  Often they remember us.  We of course have the advantage of the medical record to help our memory.  It does seem though, that returning several times is building some relationships and rapport.  I think we are also feeling more comfortable, as well as being very aware that we're still learning.

The clinic is quite well staffed at the moment, so I'm working in a room which used to be an office.  On the shelf I found a cultural orientation book, and some language resources.  It's really interesting to read the cultural information.  I've made some notes on the 22 clans - their language, totems, the family groups and the traditional owners. It's a good thing to talk about - where their country is, how often they visit, the kinds of bush food available there etc.  Some clans' country is 2 hours' drive away.

We had a "scabies day" last week. The clinic was closed for the day, and the team divided into small groups to drive around the community giving out soap, washing powder and scabies cream, to try and treat everyone all at once.  The council had been around earlier giving out plastic bags for a rubbish collection.  Many people were cleaning up their yards.  One lady was glad when we came - it gave her an excuse to stop raking and tidying, and sit down to rest.  It all felt quite paternalistic in a way. Tim and I were apprehensive about it.  But it didn't turn out that way. We were mostly well received, and people accepted the soap and cream, and listened to the explanations.  So many people live in each house!  We had some fun and good chats with people.  There was a BBQ lunch in town, put on by the clinic - for the whole community.  Sausages and white bread!  I'm not sure that's a good health message.

I went in to Darwin later that day, for a GP supervisors' training day.  Tim came in the next day (Friday) after work. And we had the weekend in Darwin. It was great fun!  Botanic Gardens, and Museum-and-Art-Gallery - had the entries for the national indigenous art award. It was great to spend time there. And a great cafe in both places!  We also saw "Charlie's Country" at the Deckchair Cinema - a great movie, and fun to see it at that venue. We met a lady there with whom we'd trekked in Nepal with the Leprosy Mussion!  We did a bit of food shopping, and I went for a swim. Lovely.

We've been assigned a different house this time, and it's very comfortable, right on the edge of the town - it looks out over the cemetery.  The need to lock gates and doors is sad, and a contrast to Galiwin'ku; also the midgies here mean that we can't sit outside on the veranda - which was just so lovely in Galiwin'ku.  Comparisons are odious!!  I've found a new bird watching spot and continue to enjoy weekend mornings in the bush, just wandering slowly, listening, looking.  I've also walked out out to Blue Bucket a few times after work. Continuing further along that track would lead to the White Subaru, and Dee Creek.  Turning off the track leads to Air Force Hill, the back way (the usual way is along the main road into town) - you know it's the right way, because you pass Washing Machine.  These are the kinds of landmarks that our western mind can understand!  I have a great respect for the Aboriginal people who just know their way about.  Their landmarks are things that we may not see, but they are there, and they have meaning in the whole scheme of life and worldview.

Blue Bucket used to be on a tree - but at least it's still there!

On the way home from Blue Bucket

We've enjoyed a couple of BBQs at the beach, and it's great to take team members who haven't been there before!  It's great to get out of town and see the water, and of course the sunset over the water is always a great treat for us Southerners.  I don't think you can have too many sunset photos..

Christobel is still wandering around the community!

We look out onto the cemetery

We we're given some mudcrabs last night! So then we had the challenge of cooking & preparing. Quite yummy, surprisingly so for a creature that lives in mud. Tim couldn't eat them in case of the shellfish allergy.

Yesterday (Sunday) we had a phone call from one of the team, advising there was a lot of alcohol about, with fighting & injuries, and the police wanted us all to stay at home all locked up. We did go out for a walk later in the day, out past Blue Bucket. We heard today that someone died last night - rolled the car. It's so sad - it was a guy Tim had seen recently, someone motivated to work on his health. Then a family member came to see us today - quite upset - that makes two family members they have to bury out at her father's country .

Beautiful new buds & shoots in a dry & burnt area. Perhaps there is hope. It's hard to see sometimes - but it is there

Q&A

Q&A was live from the Garma Festival last night.  It was a great programme with honest and robust discussion, and was hopeful and inspring.  Great!  Watch it if you can.  Here's the link

Watching Q&A Noel Pearson, Nova Peris, Ken Wyatt, Djawa Yunupingu, Joe
Morrison & Dhnggal Gurruwiwi in iview
http://iview.abc.net.au/programs/qanda/FA1307H027S00

Stop.Think.Respect

From the beyondblue website:

"Stop. Think. Respect.

beyondblue's new national anti-discrimination campaign highlights the impact of racism on the social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. 

Research shows that subtle or 'casual' racism can be just as harmful as more overt forms. Imagine being judged in a job interview by the colour of your skin, rather than the strength of your CV. How would you feel if you were watched in a shop or treated differently on public transport? 

Why should anyone be made to feel like crap, just for being who they are?   

Stop. Think. Respect. encourages everyone in Australia to check their behaviour. Stop the discrimination, think about how your comments or actions could cause real distress and harm, and respect people who are different from you."

The video is worth watching: it made me think.  

http://youtu.be/MvTyI41PvTk

Suspicion, mistrust, fear of difference, insecurity, uncertainty...  Many things contribute to racism.  It's ugly.  And can be subtle.. we all need to stop, think, and respect.

I've really enjoyed going for walks in the late afternoon.  It's great to get out into the community and surrounding bush.  I've realised that I'm very suspicious and untrusting of the dogs!  There are lots of stories and cautions to take a stick, or pick up a rock.  Mostly, they're fine, and I've met some friendly ones.  

It was good to go to church yesterday.  It was a low key event.  The bell rang early: I went along over an hour later, and was in plenty of time.  Some singing to start, then the service leader talked about what she'd experienced the day before had helped her as a person.  The clay she was working with became a picture for her in her faith journey, and she talked about it naturally and with humour, in both her language (Yolngu Matha) and in English.  Then the lay pastor spoke.  I didn't understand what he was saying, but it was good to see him there.  He's the father of the woman in her 40's, the one we sent to Darwin, who died in ICU.  

I find people here to be gracious, friendly and open - whether in the clinic, at church, or out and about.  

Follow up

One of the hard things about working in this context is follow up.  It seems really hard to finish things - to see a medical problem reach a suitable conclusion.  The medical records software has recalls.  Doctors add recalls to follow up abnormal results.  Then there are all the check up recalls for chronic conditions and general heatlh checks.  And immunisation recalls.  All these recalls - lists are generated for follow up.  But the lists are overwhelming!  It's hard to prioritise.  Often follow up is very ad hoc, and depends on people coming in for something else.  Or, drivers go out into the community with a list, and try to find people and ask them to come to the clinic.  Sometimes they come, sometimes they don't.

As clinic staff, our priority is health and follow up, wanting to do good medicine for people.  But for the people here, coming to the clinic is just one of many priorities, and sometimes it's just not important enough to come.  This is hard for us to understand!  But we need to learn how to work with the community more effectively, and part of that is understanding all the issues.

The clinic staff also have to deal with many priorities.  Often there will be visitors from outside, who come to get us revved up in their field, and do a better job at it.  On Wednesday it was STI's.  No one would deny that testing and treatment is really, really important.  But for the people who came to talk about it, that's all they do.  The clinic has to do everything...  (Actually it was a really good visit, and part of it was that a male Aboriginal Health Practitioner from Nhulunbuy came, and worked with Jeremy (doctor) and others, to run a sex education afternoon for boys)

The chronic disease nurse is just back from holidays.  She said she used to work till 7pm most days, checking the follow up lists, working on things.  But she nearly burnt out, and has decided that she can only do so much, and she needs to look after herself better.  It's the work-life balance.

Speaking of which - it's a long weekend again this weekend.  Monday is NT Picnic Day.  So that gives me 3 mornings for extended bird watching, 3 afternoons for longer walks, with plenty of time in between to read, rest, just watch the sea, do housework etc.  Lovely!  The birds were elusive this morning, till I stepped off the track and went towards some bird song.  Then I saw quite a few!  Perhaps there's a picture there: be willing to leave the comfort zone.. probably stretching it too much.  Actually I was happy just standing in the bush (on the path) and listening.  This afternoon I had a lovely walk, a new route.  Jeremy had told me about it.  It's the sea end of the wetlands.

I love watching the sea. It's changing all the time.  Yesterday , having breakfast , I saw a strange log floating a good way out.  It really looked like a crocodile - and it was!  I could see the morning sun shine on the plates of its tail.  Sometimes only its head was showing.  I did take a few photos - will post one next week when I can get it off the camera.  Big croc!  I passed on the news at the morning team meeting.  No sign of it today. 

Hearing

Today I saw a few people in the morning.  One lady came to pick up meds and the nurse sent her to me for  "woman's check" - good idea, it had been a while.  She also needed some chronic condition checks - she's 44 and had had a heart attack last year.  On asking her if she smoked, she said she'd like some patches, she needed to stop - good move I thought - but I was getting them out for her, and she left!

Another lady had been to Darwin, said she drank too much alcohol there "because of family pressure" - had been feeling unwell last week, probably de-toxing, and had been asked to return for a check up today, so she did!  She often feels stressed because of family issues and she's decided to "stop taking all the responsibility" for everyone.  Good thought!  We reflected on what being part of a family means. I think it's about the right balance.  She was really motivated to work on her health, and said she feels inside that she can get off her medications.  Perhaps she can!  I encouraged her.  She'll see the dietitian next week.  She's already joined the running group.  Yes, the RUNNING group.  I'm not sure that it's cultural to run, but people are running.  

It's so much easier for me to feel like I've connected, when people are motivated to change, to be healthy, to work on things.  But really, work here (or in any health facility) isn't about being easy for the staff, but it's about learning how to communicate in a way that can be heard.

Hearing. While seeing that second lady, she had a text from a family member, advising her of a "hearing ceremony".  This is a ceremony to advise of a death.  It was the death of the lady we sent to Darwin unconscious, on Saturday - she died today in ICU.

Hearing is so important in the communication process.  I'm challenged to listen more - talk less - understand more - and ponder how I can explain things in a "hearable" and understandable way.  Working with the Aboriginal Health Practitioners is a key in this.

After work today, there was a graduation ceremony, for 9 Aboriginal Health Practitioners, and others (school assistants, community workers).  It was great to be there, sitting on a mat.  Lots of people had come from Nhulunbuy and Darwin to be part of it.  The MC was the lady who led the service yesterday.  The graduates were "presented" by their clans - this was like a procession with didgeridoo and clap sticks, singing and dancing to the front area.  One lady (not one of our AHP's) was awarded an honorary doctorate for her contribution to health research over many years, working collaboratively with researchers to ensure cultural appropriateness.  There was a great sense of pride and community involvement, although I think it was hard for the community at this time of funerals and grief. 

  The graduates have yellow gowns

Our Aboriginal Health Practitioner graduates

  Good vantage point!

Walking home it was dusk, and I saw the new moon setting.  I love the new moon!  It's the hope of a coming full moon.  So, can I also hope for better hearing? and better health for the community here?

Sunday

I had an amazing morning bird watching this morning - I was out about 3 hours, just wandering on the track to the wetlands.  It's lovely being out in the early morning.

I was excited to see a pair of green Pygmy geese :

       

 And ESPECIALLY to see an emerald dove - this doesn't to it justice

I came home in time to get to church.  There was a small group present: about 5 Aboriginal women, and a few white families.  It was great to be part of it.  The gathering was led by an old lady.  A couple of people talked about a Bible passage, and we spent a lot of time praying for a very sick lady - turns out it's the unconscious lady we sent to Darwin on Saturday.  She's the daughter of the pastor (he wasn't there).  

It's good to pray, and even to ask for healing.  But how does God answer that?  However the focus of the prayer was for the presence of God to be with the family at this difficult time - I can identify with this, and it seems to make sense of how I understand God.  God is with us in the ups and downs - and certainly for so many people, there aren't many ups in life.

The other aspect of course is our own personal responsibility for our health.  Lifestyle issues.  Management of chronic conditions.  How does God fit into that? And how hard for Aboriginal people, introduced to western diseases, infections and the consequences, and of course unhealthy food.  There are THREE takeaway shops here. And someone said that the people don't naturally think that there's choices to be made.  "Why would they sell us food that is bad for us?"  Good question, yes, a really good question!  

I've had lunch at the home of the registrars; his mum is here, and his dad coming soon - the dad worked with Geoff (my brother-in-law) in Brisbane! Small world.  The mum said I don't look like Linda, but she changed her mind...

Walk last night, round to the far point visible from the veranda. A long way with quite a lot of rock scrambling, and an eye out for crocs. 

Galiwin'ku is on the distant point

There's a mango tree in the garden! It's flowering more & more each day. I didn't realise what it was, when I was here for the week before going to Nhulunbuy