Staff made surgery bearable
EXACTLY what does ‘ Heritage Listing’ mean? I thought it meant to preserve and protect the past for future generations.
In the small gold mining town of Ravenswood, south west of Townsville, the school, original swimming pool and several free standing brick chimney stacks, all heritage listed, are in the way of proposed new mine extensions.
The mine’s answer is simple: shift the school and bulldoze the rest, after all heritage listing only applies to us mere mortals, doesn’t it?
If something is deemed to be important enough to be heritage listed in the first place, what makes it suddenly not so important apart from the price of gold?
Shifting the school is one thing, a good thing if it will save it but in the grounds there is a map of Australia built by past students in cement with capital cities marked out. My father went to that school and he showed it to me when I was a kid. It would be a shame to lose it.
The same with those brick chimney stacks. Each one is unique. When they are gone they are gone forever. The mine has a life. When they have what they want, they will leave. GLENN EARDMAN, Jensen. MY medical visit to the Mater Hospital was a traumatic experience ( for me) as with all hospital visits. I was ready to ‘ escape’ out the door and head home a couple of times.
I was extremely impressed with all the staff, including the genial and pleasant doorman who took me upstairs and also the attention given to me by all staff upstairs. This was really wonderful also as I am only a pensioner. Their efficiency and manner thankfully began to allay some of my hospital fears.
Of course being wheeled finally into the operating room is never fun. However the staff obviously sensed my dread also and were all very efficient and seemingly understanding of another nervous patient.
Naturally Dr Kirwan ( Hazratwala) was extremely confident also, easing some of my hovering fears as I waited for the event in there to progress.
Now that I am back home I can look back and think again about the caring staff at the Mater and also my day’s treatment which I had naturally magnified out of context. Thank goodness for hospitals and many thanks to those efficient and caring staff who do their work daily at all hospitals who probably never get any mention.
A special acknowledgment must also go to Dr Kirwan for his bedside manner and his undoubted efficiency in the operating room. EDWARD FLETCHER,
West End.