Colin Bowen
Clinical Nurse, Gladstone Hospital
"It only takes 10 minutes to get to work. So you get to do anything you want with your own time because you find you get a lot more of it".
 |
Location: 918km north west of Brisbane, 207km west of Rockhampton
Emerald is a large country town located on the Nogoa River in Central Queensland and was established in 1879 to support the Central West Railway line from Rockhampton. Since the 1940’s when the region’s fertility was recognised Emerald became a prominent grain production area growing crops including cotton, wheat, peanuts, citrus fruit and flowers. Emerald also serves as a dormitory town for several coal mines. Emerald has grown to become the major regional centre of the Central Highlands.
Emerald Hospital is a 36 bed facility providing acute inpatient, pathology, accident and emergency, outpatient, pharmacy, radiography and physiotherapy services to the community.
A physician from Rockhampton visits monthly and other visiting services include a flying surgeon, cardiologist, flying obstetrician/gynaecologist, ear nose & throat specialist, adult psychiatrist, child & youth psychiatrist and paediatrician.
Clinics available include dental, antenatal, fracture, immunisation, minor operations and women’s health clinics.
Allied health services include physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, social work and dietetics and a huge number of community health services are also available.
Upgrades to staff accommodation and the community health car park were completed in 2006.
There's plenty to do in Emerald for a young family.
Fairbairn Dam is a holiday destination in itself with a selection of cabin, caravan
and camping accommodation. The lake is stocked with eight different kinds of fish including Barramundi, but it’s the Red Claw crayfish that the dam is famous for. Relax by the lake or take a swim. Picnic tables and free electric and wood barbecues are available.
Family fun continues at the Emerald Multicultural Festival, held in August at the Emerald showgrounds. Consisting of world music and dance, cultural displays, amusement rides, children’s activities, global cuisine and international beer, the Festival is an annual event that all of Emerald shows up for. Bring a lawn chair or
a rug and stake your own patch of the action.
Once famous for its reputation as a major sunflower producer, Emerald is now
home to the world's biggest Van Gogh sunflower painting located in Morton Park. The superstructure is 25 metres high and constructed of approximately 13.6 tonnes of steel.
Services
Sporting & Recreation
Queensland Health facility address
Fast Facts
Other languages