Background photo by Maria Orlova on Pexels
A collection of film photos of Traralgon shot on Ilford XP2
RURAL GP BURSARY REFLECTION Lauren Wright Hill, Monash University (IV) As a student, rural general practice is all about the stories I’m told before my supervisor enters the room. I’ve settled into a routine: eight patients a day, two days a week. Each follows a familiar pattern. I usher people into the consulting room with a polite, “Please come on through and have a seat.” I ask them, “What can I do for (them) today?” I take their history, do an exam, and send a message to my supervisor. Then, we wait.
Lauren at her desk in Breed St Clinic
One patient, employed at the local paper mill, told me he works in a room that’s three times the size of the local Woolies. Despite this, and the fact that the mill is operational 24/7, the entire operation produces only one skip of rubbish per week. Their production processes emphasise waste reduction. The rolls which the sheets of paper come on are returned, and re-used. The wrappers around the paper stacks are designed to have minimal excess. The paper itself? Made entirely from recycled materials, with all off-cuts recycled in later batches. It was interesting to see how rural industries are adapting, and becoming more environmentally conscious. In other patients, I find a real sense of rural community.
