Now I'm Fired Up

Ok everyone, it's time to get our of the complacency zone!

I don't know about you, but I think that the heart of a viable community is basic services like health and education.

When I hear on the news that people in our town are told to drive themselves 100 km to have a baby I get very angry- partly because Margaret had very quick labours with all of our children, and I know she just would not have got to Moree.

This is not outback Australia or Third World Africa- this is Narrabri, a vibrant and growing town that has been neglected in the provision of services for the last 10 years at least.

I've written a letter to The Courier and to the politicians. Why don't you do the same?

Here's my letter to the editor:

I've lived in the town of Narrabri for 16 years and I am distressed at
the run down of health services that has taken place here during that
time. It seems that governments think that if you live west of the
Great Divide you must expect to travel large distances to get basic
health care.

I am particularly disgusted by media reports that women were turned
away from the hospital here and told to drive in their own vehicle to
Moree. No ambulance, just take your chances on the roads yourself.

This is not good enough! Imagine the uproar in the media if Sydney
residents were told they had to go to Newcastle to have their babies.

Over the years, we've had lots of promises, but things only seem to
get worse. Three is no point in the Government promising us a
new hospital in the future if they will still not provide adequate
services.

I have sent emails to our local state member Kevin Humphries, to Hunter
New England Health, to the Health Minister Reba Meagher and to Upper
House Member Gordon Moyes.

I expect to get back the usual meaningless platitudes about them being
"committed to providing health care to all residents of NSW".

But maybe if enough of us take the time to protest then we may get some
real action.

Here is the text of my email:


"As a long time resident of Narrabri I am appalled at the gradual run
down of health services in this important town.

I am absolutely disgusted by the fact that last weekend women were not
able to have babies at this hospital and were told to drive to Moree.

This situation of being required to drive 100 km to gain basic health
care would not be tolerated in Sydney or Newcastle.

If my wife had been in that situation with any of our children we would
have been having the baby at the side of the road.

This situation is absolutely deplorable and MUST be addressed
immediately with actions and not just promises."


Please take the time to let the people in charge of health services
know that we deserve better then what we are getting.