How long have you worked in Broken Hill and what drew you to working here?
I first came to Broken Hill in 1982 after graduating from PIT in 1981. Following graduation I did a few locums and ended up in Broken Hill with the intention of only staying a short period. I found out some time later from other “away people”, that their stay of a few weeks also turned into a permanent tenure. By July 1983 I was the owner of the practice. The character of the town, the comfortable lifestyle and the love of my wife had snagged me.
Broken Hill has a history of chiropractic, stemming back into the early 1960’s with Brian Casey . The last 20 years has seen Trevor Williams, Leon Power and then myself work here. Interestingly, I still have patient No. 6 now aged in her mid 80’s from Brian Casey’s days.
What type of practice do you run?
The practice is being run like a big country practice. Patient management is determined on clinical merits. It is impossible to impose any other practice management schemes with the drawing area extending north to the other side of the Queensland border, west half way to Adelaide, east half way to Cobar and south half way to Mildura.
Do you have good communication with other health practitioners in town?
In the last 10 years the professional relationship with the town’s GPs has gradually improved with the retirement of most of the ‘old boys’ unwilling to change their way of thinking. They are being replaced with GPs younger than me and sometimes willing to tolerate and co-manage patients.
What are the great aspects of living and working in Broken Hill?
Broken Hill is a very intersting place, rich in early Corporate history, being the birth place of Australia’s biggest mining company BHP, world renown artist Pro Hart and the list goes on. It is known as the Gateway to the Outback.
It’s a great place to bring up a family and it has very good sporting facilities with just about any type of club to join. The people are extremely friendly. There is a saying here that it only takes 5 minutes from anywhere in the Hill.
What are the downsides to working and living in Broken Hill?
Getting to seminars. However, Adelaide is only 1 hour by plane.
What is the most interesting clinical case you have come across?
A 38 year old female who is suffering from progressive cord degeneration from a 6th thoracic disc herniation. This has caused a significant full spine scoliosis, with spastic paralysis of the lower limbs. She is still able to ambulate with some assistance and seems to have MS type signs and symptoms above the cord lesion. This case has Neurologists and Neurosurgeons baffled.
Does the town have good health services for the community?
Generally there are very good health services, managed by the Far West Area Health Service, which works with the University of NSW. Our hospital is a training hospital for medical students. We have a District Nursing Service, a Supportive Palliative Care Team, plenty of GPs, one Osteopath, one Chiropractor, one private Physiotherapist, a large Aged Care Network and an extensive Aboriginal Health Service.
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How long have you worked in Broken Hill and what drew you to working here?
I’ve worked in Broken Hill for 8 years now. I came here after graduating from PIT in 1984 and finishing 6 months of fieldwork. I had lived up here before starting the osteopathic course and had a long standing desire to help people in a country community. I had experienced how difficult it is for country folk to find good manual therapy and supportive health. Broken Hill was perfect. A small confined city of over 20,000 population, my partner and the outback close by.
What type of practice do you run?
I run a self-regulating practice from my home. I am the osteopath and the receptionist, which involves rapid role changes. From fascial/cranial treatment, to answering the door to kids who want a drink of water, to answering the phone, to a rub and manipulative treatment, to someone asking if I know of any homeopaths to help racehorses. I’ve recently reduced my clinic load from 4 days a week to 3 - 3 ½ days. I did a monthly run to Mildura for 2 years with the occasional trip to Whitecliffs and Mildura.
Do you have good communication with other health practitioners in town?
I enjoy good communications with a few other health practitioners, however they come and go frequently up here. It hasn’t always been amicable with GPs. A patient of mine was told by her GP that he would no longer treat her if she continued to see me for treatment. She changed doctors and earlier this year I nearly fell off my chair when I received a referral from him.
What are the great aspects of living and working in Broken Hill?
The horizons, the outback scrub, the sunrises and sunsets, the open space and the Darling River. The friendliness, openess and honesty of the people. The mix of people from towns people, graziers, shearers, bikies etc. Every business you need in walking distance. The sense of community, the union history, cheap housing and art.
What are the downsides to working and living in Broken Hill?
Long way to go to attend osteopathic seminars. Adelaide being 6-7 hours drive away. No access to osteopathic treatment. Racism both indigenous and non-indigenous. Both agree it was never this bad.
What is the most interesting clinical case you have come across?
The cool action of an 18 year old lad who caught his grandfather after the old boy had been sent flying by the blade of a windmill. He dragged him back onto the platform using one arm to hold on the mill and one arm to hold his pop many metres above the ground. Rapid recovery after treating his sprained peri-clavicular tissues and 1st rib. I had expected he would require more than 1 or 2 treatments but some of these bushies have such strong, vital tissues and such sparkling eyes full of spirit.
Does the town have good health services for the community?
Good health services but insufficient GPs, mostly overworked. Insufficient beds in the new hospital and the out-patients is no longer a place to go without being in an ambulance for an emergency. Specialists travel up from Adelaide. The elderly, indigenous and disabled have an assortment of services available.
I love my job, the desert and the people, but don’t tell anyone or they’ll be charging me. I have been extremely fortunate to receive a portion of the teachings from some indigenous elders regarding deep respect and love. These elders have taught me, not through words alone but by experiencing knowledge, that uranium should be left in the ground. These people have been poisoned by Maralinga and the Emu Plains bombs. They understand the whole nuclear cycle and the spiritual and world ramifications of uranium mining. Please do what you can. Consider the science but also question the spirit inside the earth. It’s all sacred ground.
This is a call for help from the Kupa Piti Kunka Tjuta at: www.iratiwanti.org
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