Dig Deep

After 2 years of very stimulating organisational development and counselling work Dan will leave the Melbourne General Practice Network in Carlton, Victoria. The end of Dans contractual commitments has opened up an exciting next chapter for Dan who plans to open up a new practice location closer to home. Dans prefered locations for this move are to the inner eastern suburbs.

Michael Carr Greg an adolescent psychologist came out to the Vermont Junior Football Club (VJFC) in Sept 08 and spoke to over 150 mum’s, dads and young people on the topic of life balance and performance for kids. Our Well-Being group at VJFC comprising Steve Cooper, Leanne Fiske, Jackie Strachan , Kaye Hotker, Michael Rennie and myself put our heads together to organise this inagural well being event for our club. The event had much support from the club with various community leaders attending. Lane Toyota sponsored the event which was fantastic. The feedback about the session was very positive. Click on the link to read more about Michael Carr Greg and his work.  http://www.michaelcarr-gregg.com.au/  

Walking the Kokoda Trek

A team of GP Division staff walked the Kokoda Track in PNG from the 6th July 2008 comprising Debra Goldfinch (CEO MGPN), James Lamerton (CEO West Gippsland GP Division), Marguerite Hall (GP MGPN) and Sue Deed (GP West Gippsland) and Dan Riddle (Psychologist MGPN).

Purpose of the trip:
Complete a broad needs assessment of the primary care health services/ infrastructure along the track to identify opportunites where Victorian GP Divisions could offer support.

Process: To gain an understanding of primary care needs the first step was to walk the track and experience the life and culture from the perspective of the Nationals in the villages and those acting as trek carriers.  From this we could observe and document factors that support and those that might hinder health maintenance and then identify possible projects where GP Divisions in Victoria could make a difference.

Factors identified that may hinder health maintenance:

*Limited access to medical practitioners or nurses
*Poor availability of medicines/basic first aid supplies
*Absence of critical vaccination infrastruture e.g fridges
*Difficulty training-retaining practitioners in remote areas
*Smoking tobacco among men appears to be high
*Little access to condoms and health messages about safe sex
*Sanitation practices-variable
*Environmental management (choko vine)
*Waste management e.g variable levels of waste disposal
*Trek carriers first aid skills understanding low
*PNG government support for health and education low
*Lack of governance of track 

Factors identified that may promote health maintenance:

*Health support from Rotary International  
*Level of physical activity appears very high
*Low levels of obesity
*Most Nationals healthy body weight
*Food is predominantly fresh & grown locally
*Available fruits, veg & nuts 
*Little alcohol/drugs availability
*Air quality very good
*Nationals observed of old age.

Selection of areas where Divisions can make a difference

Two topics have been identified as possible areas for health related projects including:

1. Partnering with existing PNG Health officials, Rotary International and village chiefs to support selected health infrastucture development in Buna. The goal here would be to support vaccinations by installing a solar power fridge in the health clinic at Buna. In addition some other medical supplies and equipment would also be provided.

2. Assess the viability of sending up to 12 GP’s (selected from among the 28 Victorian Divisions) back to New Guinea in March 09 to support training trek leaders in first aid and providing medical services/clinics in selected villages through collaboration with other HMO’s such as Rotary International.

 On return from the Kokoda Track Dr Marguerite Hall penned the following description of her experiences……..
 

Deeply asleep, covered in a mosquito net tripod, the day begins with a tug on the leg. It’s pitch black outside - 4:30am - and we need to start walking at 6:30. Slightly disorientated, half asleep and grumpy without my usual cup of tea in bed, I lie still for a bit as the headlamps go on around me and the scuffling in packs begins. I listen to drifts of sporadic conversation, assorted mumbles and groans and the daily ritual begins: pack up the belongings, roll up the mat, breakfast, collect water and sterilize it by one method or another, morning stretches and the walking begins. Don’t forget to slap on the ‘Bushmans’ and take the anti-malarial pills. It’s hard to believe but it can take two hours for 18 trekkers and 36 porters to get ready for the days walking.

I’m lucky to have my own personal carrier, Fabian, to offload my pack on to and he will be there to help me through the day whenever it is required. Initially I felt reluctant to accept his help but as the days went on we developed a very amicable camaraderie and enjoyed walking quietly or talking a bit.

As it becomes light and we look back up at the steep gully that we have just descended in the dark, walking poles at the ready, I am thankful not to have tumbled down into the fast flowing river at the bottom. I am also thankful for the relatively dry conditions which means that the mud is not as treacherous as it could well be. Walking steadily through the pristine rain forest, mind freed from clutter allows time and space for different thoughts to flow. It is a revelation to be able to  relinquish all responsibilities and the need to make decisions.

Time on the Kokoda Track is different from real life time and the freedom from worrying about time enables reflection and peace. This feeling is amplified by the awesome nature of the towering trees all around, the giant stilted pandanus palms and the silence punctuated only by birdsong and people. It feels like nothing has changed here for aeons and time seems to move slowly if at all. It is hard to imagine for now that a bloody conflict took place beneath these moss covered titans of trees. Flashes of colour imprint themselves upon the eyes as an enormous butterfly or flowering tree is passed and then just as suddenly all birdsong stops and a profound silence descends.

Sooner than you expect it’s lunchtime and a welcome rest is enjoyed by all, as is the view over mist shrouded peaks. Injuries, blisters and tiredness are attended to as we eat and rest.

As we walked the Kokoda Trail we gradually absorbed more details of the conflict that occurred. We pass the significant sites, we see the plane wrecks and we see the killing fields in chilling detail from the gun position perched high on a ridge line. The horror of the deaths, the fighting and the noise is in stark contrast to the peace and calm underneath the forest canopy.

We continue on negotiating river crossings, short sharp climbs and slippery descents. Conversations amongst the group of 18 trekkers and 36 nationals meander here and there, from the intimate and personal to global problems. Friendships are made and cultural barriers diminish. The group has become a bit scattered so  a volley of ‘call and answer’ singing echoes from the trek master at the back of the group to the trek leader at the front. Soon our carriers and leaders know where everyone is - no one can get lost. At our next break in the late afternoon we reach a small, high clearing in the forest. Our local guides drop their packs, gather together and treat us to a magnificent, spontaneous a capella  performance of traditional songs. In the amphitheatre of the forest the harmonies are so intricate and perfect, the sound so resonant, you would have to be deaf or made of stone to fail to be moved. For me it was the same spine tingling brilliance as when I first heard the “Tallis Scholars” sing the sacred music, Allegri’s “Miserere” in the Cathedral. We reach our destination in the afternoon and there is plenty of time to sun bake, swim in a rocky pool in the river, sleep in the sun or play guitar and sing.

While retrieving my washing from a tree I am dive bombed by an angry wasp attacking my face. Immediately I am taken off and treated with a ‘magic leaf’ and charcoal, its effect is immediate and although I looked a sight, the stinging had completely gone. Other magic leaf treatments had been used before for all manner of soreness, stiffness and leg problems, to good effect. We are enjoying the hospitality of one of the small villages along the track and have been shown traditional cooking methods of cassava and bananas soaked in coconut milk and baked in pandanus leaves. Watching the young men in our group playing touch rugby and hacky sac with the  men from the village and playing with the small children is a delight. However any romantic notions about the charms of life in the village are rudely dispelled by a word from Stanley, the village chief. Life here is hard; growing enough food is a struggle, there is an aid post but no nurse or health worker. Stanley would love education for all the kids but it is very costly.  Instead of bringing plastic toys that break, balloons and other trinkets he suggests trekkers should bring books, writing materials and more books.

Dinner is served, our dishes are done for us and we sit back and digest the stories of the day. It is quite a surreal sight to see our 18 white mosquito net tripods lined up in neat rows along our raised sleeping platform. We are roofed over by a high arch of pandanus palm with low walls and open windows – perfect to catch the cool breeze and provide much needed ventilation. The sound of cicadas, frogs and rushing water is so loud that even the dedicated snorers are outdone.

It is easy to fall asleep lulled by an immense satisfaction with the day, the physical exertion and the refreshing simplicity of it all. Another day on the Kokoda Track has passed us by.

By Marguerite Hall

Talks about her background in sport and public life achieving success despite the challenges along the way.

Do you appreciate the conditions our Kokoda Veterans fought in during WWII? To gain a perspective take a look at the photos of the Kokoda Track during WWII.

During World War II Australian troops fought courageously to ward off the possible occupation by Japanese forces. Much of this defence occured in the shores and islands to the north of Australia. One cannot understand the full extent of the Kokoda Campaign without an awareness of the ‘whole’ campaign. See anzacday.org.au for details.

A story has broken about the potential threats of track blockage during early July.

Read the news item from the ABC .

Talks about the problem of rural mental health and his personal transition from playing to retirement.