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The mountain was the hardest hit during the devastating 2023 Christmas night tornado, suffering widespread property damage and a significant blow to the morale of the tight knit community.
But from that experience, and more recently ex-Cyclone Alfred, resilience has grown.
Nowhere is it more evident than at the Tamborine Mountain Medical Practice where doctors and staff not only prepared for days ahead of the big blow but left their own darkened homes as soon as it was safe to return to work.
With electricity down at the practice, recovery efforts even included some old-school solutions, like handwriting prescriptions on dusty script pads discovered at the back of a cupboard.
Dr Leann Carr-Brown said early planning was key.
“Preparation was something we didn’t get a chance to do two Christmases ago, so this time it was very different,” she said.
Community connections also played a vital role, with residents sharing updates via social media where their technology allowed.
“With phones down and roads to the mountain cut, word of mouth and the local Facebook community page – at least for those who could access it – were how many of our patients knew we were open,” Dr Carr-Brown said.
“Conversely, one elderly patient had a fall at home, and we found out because her daughter posted about it on Facebook.
“And because we had plenty of warning that Alfred was approaching, we printed out hard copies of patient lists and histories and contact details in advance.
“On the Thursday, we even got in some telehealth appointments before the worst of the weather hit and at the end of the day our patients were very grateful for what we were doing in trying circumstances,” she said.
Kylie Robinson, who has lived on the mountain for 20 years and worked at the practice as a senior receptionist and now practice manager for 11 years, said the team was up and running by the Monday with a GP, a nurse, and a receptionist.
“We were there for urgent appointments, wound care, emergency pathology and radiology, and scripts that we could write by hand,” she said.
The team also provided minor wound dressings for people injured while clearing fallen trees and debris.
They treated chronic ulcers, asthma flare-ups, and removed sutures that were due to be taken out to prevent infections.
Kylie said the mountain’s mood remains stoic.
“For many of our patients, and probably everyone else in the community, it was a case of ‘oh no, not again.’
“But everyone knew they had to get back on with things, and our patients thanked us for opening so quickly.
“Compared to the Christmas night tornado, we had warning and time to prepare, and the local property damage wasn’t as severe; it was another uninvited test of community character, but I think we’re all coming through this latest challenge OK,” she said.
Gold Coast Primary Health Network (GCPHN) CEO, Matt Carrodus, praised the work of the practice.
“As Cyclone Alfred bore down, it was our job to ensure general practices, primary healthcare providers and commissioned service providers had the information they needed to prepare for this severe weather event,” Mr Carrodus said.
“To see teams like those at the Tamborine Mountain Medical Practice go above and beyond to serve their communities in such trying circumstances speaks volumes to the dedication and skills of our local health professionals,” he said.
Since 1956, Tamborine Mountain Medical Practice has provided healthcare to the mountain and surrounding districts.
Located at 14 Main Western Road North Tamborine, the practice is owned and run by doctors who are a big part of the community they serve.
*Photo courtesy of Cindy Lever/Tamborine Mountain News.
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