Dr Raefe Gundelach
ENT, Mornington Island
"Working in remote Indigenous communities like Mornington Island allows us to experience rural life and enjoy the natural wonders".
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Location: : 2,270km north west of Brisbane, 125km north west of Burketown, 444km north of Mt Isa
Mornington Island is a small Indigenous community part of the Wellesley Island Group in the Gulf of Carpentaria. Originally managed by the Uniting Church, the island achieved self-governance in 1978 and is now controlled by the Mornington Shire Council. The traditional home of the Lardil people, Mornington Island is rich with culture and art. The island offers a relaxed and quiet lifestyle with beautiful beaches, an abundance of fish and marine life including sea turtles and the endangered dugong, it's coastal living at its best.
The Mornington Island Primary Health Care Centre provides the community with primary health care, emergency and a range of community health services.
An Indigenous health program is also provided.
A community Indigenous health program provides outreach services to surrounding communities and several visiting services are accessible by patients. These visiting services include obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics, psychiatry, social work, podiatry, the Royal Flying Doctor Service (child health), hearing health, women's health, oral health, physiotherapy, pharmacy, palliative care and aged care assessment and renal nursing.
Mornington Island’s perfect surroundings of white sands and clear turquoise water reflect the tranquillity of the locals. Water sports of all kinds are likely to become your regular pastime. In winter, spotting dugongs, flat back turtles and dolphins
will no longer be rare highlights of your day but spectacular recurrences. The best part about Mornington Island is the weather. Conventional seasons cease to exist. Forget hot and cold, wet and dry will now be your measure. The average winter day sees a top of 25 degrees and a minimum of 16.
The Mornington Island Arts and Crafts Centre brings together Indigenous artists from the Wellesley Island Group through a unified love of art. Each piece exhibited is a reflection of the artist’s soul and experiences. Information regarding each artist is available at the Centre but chances are you will run into them at the centre at some stage. For many of the artists at the Centre, this is an opportunity for them
to preserve their heritage. The works created through this Centre are regularly
exhibit all over Australia. For those who wish to truly understand the island Indigenous culture, the Mornington Island Arts and Crafts Centre is not to be missed.
Alcohol restrictions are in place in the Mornington Shire area. For more information visit the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Services website.
The Mornington Island Dancers use an evocative combination of traditional dance, songs and didgeridoo to tell Dreamtime stories of their land and their history. The group has even toured nationally and internationally!
Services
Sporting & Recreation
Queensland Health facility address
Fast Facts
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