Author Archives: jiarna

Over the long weekend at the end of July, the Harts Range Amateur Race Club hold their annual race day at their race course near Harts Range on the Plenty Highway.  It is a family weekend, with events and entertainment for children and adults.  Catering is a mix of BYO and a canteen kitchen usuallyContinue reading “Harts Range Races”

During our recent school holidays, I took two of my daughters on a hiking holiday to Fraser Island.  When we were there in 2008 with the 4WD and camper trailer, we said we should return to do the Great Walk.  Then we could see the sights we missed that were inaccessible to vehicles.  The tripContinue reading “Transport troubles on holiday”

I have recently become interested in the concept of uncertainty, particularly as it relates to remote clinical practice.  Uncertainty is a normal part of human existence, and very often it is an uncomfortable part.  People tend to try to minimise uncertainty, to reduce the discomfort it causes.  This occurs in a number of ways, andContinue reading “Dealing with uncertainty”

At my workplace we have recently implemented the Modified Early Warning Score (MEWS) to assist clinicians to decide if their patients are unwell or not.  On the surface of it, you would think this is a great idea, especially as it empowers junior staff to call senior staff to review patients they are concerned about. Continue reading “Thinking by proxy”

Most of my education has been by one form or other of distance education.  My first 2 years of schooling were Grade 1 and Grade 2 at Meadows Primary School, then just as I was starting Grade 3, we moved out bush.  Our farm was 20km from the nearest bus stop, and the school wasContinue reading “Distance Education”

One of the things that makes work worthwhile is the opportunity to make a difference.  In my experience, this is a factor which is often underestimated, or perhaps undervalued, by managers.  It goes part of the way to explain why throwing money at remote health jobs does little to resolve the chronic shortage of personnel. Continue reading “Making a difference”

One of my long-held beliefs is that people who live in rural and remote areas need to support their local businesses, or risk losing them.  After all, city-based people are not going to drive to the middle of nowhere for the privilege of paying higher prices for a restricted range of lower quality goods.  SoContinue reading “Bush Orders – bringing competition to remote areas”

I received a call from a bank while sleeping in preparation for night shift.  It seemed a reasonable call.  Let’s start at the beginning…   Some time ago I completed an application for a new credit card which would facilitate Bush Orders from our chosen supermarket.  As part of the application, I naturally had to provideContinue reading “Banking on frustration”

One of my favourite places near Alice Springs is Redbank Gorge, about 220km west of Alice Springs in the West MacDonnell Ranges. The road is sealed except for the entry into the gorge carpark, which is about 8km of rutted dirt track. It can be accessed by normal car most of the time, but you’dContinue reading “Redbank Gorge”

I received my registration renewal notice via email recently for the Landcruiser.  Don’t know how much it is because I can’t open it!  And yes, I elected to have renewals sent to me via email not post.  Whatever the cost, I know it’s due for a roadworthy inspection, so once again it’s time to checkContinue reading “Registration inspection looming”