Robs words.
The breeze, the sea air, the panting of Coconut our clinic dog, the laughter of happy people going about their business, the buzz of the charter plane coming and going from Horn Island, the beep of the blood pressure machine, the smell of fresh fish cooking in Chilli, lemon and Ginger, the crunch of crispy fried prawns. Island life is just too hard to take.
Masig or Yorke Island is quite literally a tear drop in the ocean. Formed as a sand island on a coral reef, this tiny island is home to 200-250 islanders fiercely proud of their ‘Ilan’ and their heritage. They are a proud sea faring people with a thriving Reef Pilot , and fishing industry. Across the outer islands of the Torres Strait, Masig is known for the Tiger and Endeavour prawns, sea mullet and cray fish. The water is clear greenish blue, and cant be captured on film, though Joanne has done an outstanding job trying. The clinic work here is different to all the other islands that you may have read about in www.robsoverthetop.blogspot.com but I am not sure if that is a function of the different attitude of the locals on this island, or a different view of me working in the clinic.
Things are different this time. Saibai, was chaos, a real regimental aid post, crazy busy and always random, with the odd dynamic of PNG nationals coming over to Saibai for treatment. Darnley was simply stunning, with a clinic that operated on the Torres model of health care, where Islanders ran the health service, and nurses were simply consultants for the complex clinical presentations. Yam island , also beautiful, but with no permanent nurse, the clinical environment, stock, pharmacy and general day to day function seemed to be missing the TLC that only nurses bring to a centre. Here, the CNC Robyn (Aunty Robyn or Aka Robyn to the children in the village) runs a well oiled machine that demonstrates a relaxed and calm style. Robyn has been the permanent RAN here for 17 years. She has seen little ones born, grow up, go off to school, and come back to the island and start families of their own. She is truly part of the island.
So what seems different? Well for a start, here, I am not lonely!! That is a big thing. I have my family here on this tour of duty. In Saibai, I was full of wonder. I met some wonderful nurses (Tyson and Teresa) and school teachers (Sarah, Vanessa, Bill and Cass) who befriended me and with whom I shared a drink, and some meals, and a lot of laughs. But I missed my people.
On Darnley I didn’t share a house, but had health workers, and Annie and Chris to offer me company, but I didn’t have my family. I missed my people.
Yam was the toughest. I was the only nurse, and whilst the health workers made an effort to include me, the loneliness was really hard. These experiences taint your view of the place. But here on Yorke, I have other nurses, I have friendly health workers, and most importantly I have my family, and that makes all the difference. I love it!!
Ben comes into the clinic randomly with odd reef creatures with amazing colours, and shapes. Armed with a marine biology book, he sprouts off data and scientific facts about this shell, and that creature. His home schooling as far as I am aware seems to be working, and if I could just keep him focused, then I am confident that the next 4 months for his year 10 studies will be seamless.
Amy has been going to the school for two days, she is reading year 7 work, and in a class of grade 5,6 &7 as the only year 4 kid. She bounces home from school with interesting happenings, and learning, and her speech is starting (after just 2 days), to blend into a English, creole hybrid. It is cool to watch her adjust to her new friends and environment.
Jo is taking it all in. She spent today with the Midwife “Sandy” brushing up on some Antenatal, and postnatal checks. She also chatted with Uncle Ned, the island priest/police officer (and many other hats) about the island, its people, and history. I am loving watching Jo’s wonder, and responses to the culture shock. I call them “Saibai Moments” because I had them in Saibai, when all this was so new to me too. But all the other stuff aside, I come home to a bed each night with my wife in it. Her smile, her smell, her touch, her ear, her being, makes for this whole experience …this time to be so , so different. And for the first time in the Torres, I don’t feel lonely.
I cant wait for the weekend when as a family we can walk the island, and have a fishing expedition, and try some snorkelling and reef walking, and just be, in the presence of my people for the first time above 10 degrees south. Am I living a dream….you betcha!!!
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