ART OF RECOVERY

NATALIE Turner Turner, 19, ( pictured pict d above) b ) had her leg broken in two places when charged by a cow on a station south of Julia Creek last week. She had to be ‘choppered’ to Cloncurry and from there flown to Townsville by the Royal Flying Doctor Service. She was looked after at the Townsville University Hospital and later at the Mater. While being treated at TUH she chanced upon a charcoal drawing of brahman cattle on one of the corridor walls. It was by Townsville artist Ida Montague (pictured below) who now lives in Buderim. Natalie’s mum, Melita, who had flown up from NSW to Townsville to be with her daughter, later put it this way when she contacted the artist. “In among all the pain and delirium she pulled me and the paramedic team up, only for a moment, to admire your charcoal drawing of the brahmans. It’s such a striking piece and just quietly I’m heading out to that hospital today to take another look.” As it turns out the drawing is one of three by Ms Montague which were bought at an art auction at the hospital in 2000. Natalie was discharged from the Mater on Wednesday. She’s got a couple of weeks of physio before heading back to NSW for a few weeks of TLC from Mum and Dad. Once recovered Natalie will be back out to the North-west station. She spent last year working on the stations and was to start a business degree at RMIT University this year but COVID19 put paid to those plans. Next year, depending on mad cows and coronavirus, she will have her head in the books at uni.