Cardwell GP goes online to lure his replacement

CARDWELL’S only live-in GP is packing up his stethoscope and moving to Toowoomba.

Online search for new Cardwell doc

CARDWELL’S only live-in GP is packing up his stethoscope and moving to Toowoomba, but not before launching his own online campaign to attract a new doctor to the seaside town.

Dr Gawie Roux was posted to North Queensland 15 years ago as part of the “Doctors in the Bush” program after moving to Australia from South Africa.

But with the looming birth of his second grandchild, Dr Roux, is making the trip south in August to be closer to his family.

“It’s really unfortunate but it is time to move,” Dr Roux said. “My patients are very disappointed and there has been lots of tears, but I am trying my best to get a good doctor here.”

Dr Roux said he had advertised his position with a number of different agencies, as well as directly through his patient base and Townsville-Mackay Medicare Local.

THANKS DOC: Dr Gawie Roux examines Rose Cambell, then 3, at his clinic in Cardwell back in 2007. PIC: EVAN MORGAN

Dr Roux has also put together a website promoting the role and the wider Cardwell community, which has already attracted a number of visitors and potential candidates.

“It’s about creating word of mouth and I wanted to provide some extra information about Cardwell to see if we can entice anyone to come,” Dr Roux said.

“It’s a fantastic community to work in and the natural environment here is out of this world, with the rainforests, reef, islands, and the fishing.”

Medicare Local chairman Dr Kevin Arlett although there were other GPs who commuted from Ingham, it would be devastating for Cardwell patients to lose access to a permanent doctor.

“It’s always difficult to get a doctor for a small town,” Dr Arlett said.

For more information about the GP position, visit Dr Roux’s website here.

Originally published as Cardwell GP goes online to lure his replacement