I believe there are two private psychiatrists practising in Wagga, with another one coming to Wagga from Canberra once a week for two days. Apparently with these three, no one can get an appointment in under three months. What a dreadful situation.

One experience I heard of recently was that someone who needed to see their psychiatrist, and is a patient of one, was not able to get an urgent appointment for a week even though the person was in need of the doctor to adjust medication.   

Of course, many I suspect have to do go to the Emergency Department of Wagga Base Hospital. The mental health unit, I believe, has a psychiatrist who flies in to Wagga once a week from Sydney.

It is time the government health minister has a good look at Wagga’s lack of mental health resources.

Furthermore, why haven’t we got a private health hospital here?  

Calvary Hospital would be a great place for one. Calvary, to their credit, have seen to things the government has not, such as a hospice and a pool and other things.

Doctor Joe McGirr, our new Member for Wagga and a doctor of medicine himself, knows of all these problems and I hope he can address them in the time ahead.  

It is desperately needed.

The recent sad passing of Jan is a big loss, not only for her family but to the wider community.

At the commencement of our working involvement in 1981, I quickly became aware that I was working with a lady of commitment and high integrity.

Rest in peace, Jan.

Well done Cathy McGowan for calling out the government for their shameful treatment of refugees in the offshore detention centres.

It is absolutely shameful that our government still holds about 117 children in Nauru.

To our shame many of these children have been held for five years and are absolutely traumatised out of their minds.

Only days ago a peak Australian medical body called it “a humanitarian emergency” and demanded that these children and their families be removed from this hellhole as soon as possible. 

Even though 60 per cent of Australians are unaware that there are children on Nauru, the tide is turning.

We cannot remain ignorant, even though the government would want us to remain silent.

As the old saying goes “what you walk by is the standard you set”. In other words, our silence in this terrible tragedy means our assent

However, the tide is turning. In just a few weeks, over 110,000 people have demanded politicians get #KidsOffNauru.

Sadly, Australia is providing an example to the world in the worst possible way. 

Come on Australia. We are better than this. It is not what we are.