Written by Neville Wilson, MD
"Sitting here in grey, cold and sun-forsaken Ireland, I miss the contrasting weather of Gove (Australia) - predictably warm and sultry, with an occasional evening storm, but always pleasant and bearable. The Gove nights could be humid at times, but relief was provided by the large rotating fans suspended from
the ceiling in each bedroom. Not to mention the good, refreshing Ozzie beer!
I have been thinking of those wonderful days spent at Gove and wondering what it would be like to go back for another experience! We were often on the beach in the evenings after work, and had to keep a watchful eye as "salties" (salt-water crocs) often roamed the beach in search of a delicacy! Sitting on the rocks and watching the sun slowly sink below the wide expanse of endless blue ocean was a rare treat, and the "barbies" (barbecues) on the beach that followed marked the perfect ending to so many perfect days.
My wife, Sandy, and her friend, Denise, met a water buffalo on the road one morning while strolling, but it decided that two females were too much for it to handle, so after rudely snorting at them, it turned tail and ran off to the river! On another occasion a water buffalo strayed onto the school grounds and the police (much to my disgust and anger) shot and killed it. Rumors of a water buffalo wandering in our garden were greatly exaggerated, although we did have wild dogs in our back garden on a few nights trying to make a meal of our pet ducks!
Medical practice in rural Australia beats anything I have done anywhere in Ireland or Canada. Being part of a rural medical team, as at Gove Hospital, is enriching and professionally rewarding, as each practitioner brings to every challenge their own experiences and expertise, thereby contributing to an unforgettable, and unparalleled, shared learning experience. Would I go back? In a heartbeat!
Thanks to Global Medical for a wonderful experience. I have cherished the opportunity to be immersed within the heart and centre of these communities and their peculiar and unique spectrum of needs, each different from the other, yet sharing many similar fundamental characteristics. I can think of no greater challenge or fulfilling exercise than these meaningful and memorable expeditions. I hope this challenges other physicians to explore and experience rural practice in Australia.
NOTE: Gove Peninsula, in the far northeast of Arnhem Aboriginal Land, is one of the most remote areas of Australia's Northern Territory and very much off the tourist track. In fact, it can only be reached by all-terrain vehicles. The reward for the long and difficult journey lies in the wild coastal scenery, the beautiful empty beaches, the tropical vegetation and the excellent fishing in the rivers.
Dr. Neville Wilson is a Family Medical Practitioner from South Africa. He and his wife, Sandy, have raised four children and are seasoned travelers. In addition to his locum tenens stint for GMS in rural Australia, Dr. Wilson has practiced medicine in urban East London, remote Zululand, within the isolated Aboriginal communities of Northern Manitoba, Canada and is now practicing in Ireland. He plans to locum again in either Australia or the Cayman Islands.
Written by Claire Arment, MD
As an Audubon Society and Sierra Club member, I found the wildlife of Australia particularly interesting. It is possible to see platypus in the wild if you are careful, as well as cassowaries, emus, echidnas, wombats, various kinds of kangaroos and wallabies, 
crocodiles, and of course, the Tasmanian Devil. The bird life is beautiful and varies beyond my wildest expectations. There are many fine national parks throughout Australia, and special sites like Carnarvon Gorge with fern trees unchanged in 300 million years, and the Letchworth Fossil beds with Miocene species from the early Age of Mammals, 20 to 30 million years ago. And of course, 
no trip to Queensland would be complete without a dive off the Great Barrier Reef; local tours make this very easy to do and the dive is safe for you and the reef life.
As with all travel and work in new situations, it is important to be flexible. All my Australian accommodations were simple but adequate, and so were the cars I was given. Learning to drive on the left is much easier in rural communities than in cities, and is quite manageable. Food in Australia is much better than I'd anticipated. There are lots of fruits and vegetables, and Aussie cuisine has been positively influenced by the influx of immigrants from Asia. The 
Australian beers are the best in the world, and the wines are pretty good also.
This Australian experience came just before my retirement and was for me the perfect way to conclude my work in medicine. Had I known how interesting it would be, I'd have done this years ago. I recommend Global Medical's opportunities without reservation and only hope more doctors will have the enriching adventure I did.
Claire Arment, MD is a Family Physician from Vista, California, USA, who clearly loved her Australian locum tenens experience. She's now planning for an assignment closer to home in the U.S.