JOURNALIST: Jenny Oldland
WHEN Sue Leverton, of Hardwicke Bay, started her first posting as a remote area nurse 20 years ago there was no orientation, training or manual to guide her in her new career. 
“I arrived at Indulkana in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Lands and was given a small handbook and another text entitled Where There is no Doctor and written for Africa,” Sue said.
“I quickly learned the value of the Nungkari or traditional healer, Harry, and we developed a relationship of mutual respect.”
Today, health professionals working in remote areas are far better equipped with comprehensive manuals, access to the internet and organisations such as Bush Support Services.
“My late husband Alan and I spent four years at Indulkana after initially signing up for two and while I worked in the clinic Alan, who was a trained youth worker, ended up running diversionary programs,” Sue said.
“We came back and worked in the Barossa and Adelaide for the next 10 years, but I found I missed nursing so I took a refresher course in Victoria and, although it was not the plan, I headed north again as a locum nurse.”
While working at Tea Tree in the Northern Tanami Desert, Alan became ill and Sue returned home to nurse him, settling into their new house at Hardwicke Bay for only 10 weeks before he lost his battle with motor neurone disease.
For the full report, see the print issue of this week's YP Country Times.