Partyline
National Rural Health Alliance newsletters and media releases; PublicationNT; E-Journals
2013-07
This publication contains may contain links to external sites. These external sites may no longer be active.; Made available via the Publications (Legal Deposit) Act 2004 (NT).
This publication contains many links to external sites. These external sites may no longer be active.; Includes Good Health and Wellbing in Rural and Remote Australia
English
Rural Health Services -- Northern Territory -- Periodicals; Community Health Services -- Northern Territory -- Periodicals
The National Rural Health Alliance Inc.
Deakin (A.C.T.)
Number 47
Check within Publication or with content Publisher.
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/260853
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/490226
20 Partyline July 2013 I went with Maternal Child Health on a walk to Risewa today. Not many people from Kirakira have been there. This is the most magical unspoilt, untouched, unpolluted place and is exactly what I expected the Solomons to be. After a twenty minute drive to the new bridge we walked off the side of the road down into the wilderness, all of us carrying our gear for the clinic. These people are tough, very sure footed and walk like mountain goats. Our two hour walk with knee high river crossings took three and a half hours to complete, through thigh-deep water and strong rapids. It included rock climbing and, in the rain, trekking through slushy ankle deep, viscous mud. The river we were following was just magnificent. It is clear and flows rapidly. It reminded me of the Tully or Barron in North Queensland - but wider. The water was crisp, clear and strong. We crossed the river 18 times. The thing I loved about this is that there are no flying biting insects, no snakes, crocs or mozzies. Its really incredible. There are however red ants: almost microscopic red dot ants that bite and sting like fire. This area was severely affected by cyclone Freda and there are absolutely massive trees knocked down (so big they are 4-6 metres high on their sides). Needless to say the path was blocked (several times). Im sure we were lost many times on the way there because the journey back only took two and a half hours. There are massive cliff faces that were eroded by the cyclone and part of the walking track was along this edge and it was obvious parts of it had fallen in. I had to watch every single step of this journey and stumbled several times, as did the others. You would be lucky to get out alive if you fell. We walked through banana plantation, taro plantation, cocoa plantation, teak, sweet potato, pineapple ... there would Walk to RiseWa RURAL HEALtH LEgENd, BRUCE HARRIS, NOW LIvINg ON QUEENSLANdS gOLd COASt, REPORtEd tO Partyline tHAt HE HAd tAKEN FOUR BONd UNIvERSIty StUdENtS (ALL BUshFIRE* MEMBERS) tO tHE SOLOMON ISLANdS WHERE tHEy SPENt A MONtH WORKINg IN REMOtE COMMUNItIES. At HIS SUggEStION, WE INvItEd ONE OF tHOSE StUdENtS, FIONA MCKINNON, tO SHARE HER StORy. HERE IS ONE dAy ... The Bond University Society of Health for Indigenous and Rural Experience (BUSHFIRE) is a student-run club founded by Bond University medical students. The club aims to create a strong interest in rural and Indigenous health within the Bond University health community. www.gobushfire.org *
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