The Leigh Creek coalfields
& town are to be leased to private enterprise.
The SA government was not able to sell, so this is a
compromise. The new operators should be known by the
end of the year.
Magnesium and uranium mines
are being developed nearby, each probably on a
‘fly in, fly out ‘ basis.
The pastoralists have had a
meeting with the federal government last week to
raise issues of concern. This is a first in this
area. Some are making as little as $5000 a year that
we know about. Just the fact that they met together
and shared common concerns has provided some relief
in that they do not feel so alone. There has been
little rain in the Gammon and Flinders ranges area
and half way up the Birdsville and Strzelecki tracks.
Some stations are without water for the house and
have to cart it in.
Ted has been chairman of the
Hospital Board for almost twelve months. The Hospital
is in a period of transition with both the Director
of Nursing (DON), and the deputy (Clinical Nurse
Consultant) resigning to move after many years of
service. The local doctor has moved and we have 4
doctors who come for two weeks at a time. All this is
a challenge!
Morwen is planning to attend a
Council of Remote Area Nurses of Australia (CRANA)
workshop in Melbourne mid September for managing
stress in remote areas. She has had an increase in
people wanting counselling and misses the benefits of
a supervisor or colleagues.
You may be as
delighted/relieved as we are that Mark (our son)
thinks the pain he has been plagued with over the
last twelve months or so, has plateaued and that some
new treatment is allowing him to sleep. This has
cheered him enormously. He feels that he is more in
control rather than the pain controlling him- a
significant change. May it continue!
We are conscious of a greater
openness to spiritual issues as we are here longer.