Couple afraid of losing loved pet

FORMER Cooktown local Pete Herrmann and partner Jude Hennessy are desperately searching for their missing dog, as the deadline for their return to Tasmania looms.

The couple have been in Cooktown since May, along with Ms Hennessy’s dog Bridget, a 10-year-old large white chihuahua.

Bridget went missing on August 4 from Mr Herrmann’s Hope Street house, and hasn’t been seen since.

“The gate was left open,” a devastated Ms Hennessy said.

“She’d just had a bath, so she didn’t have a collar on and she’s a hunter and she just loves to take herself for a walk, too; she has no fear of anything.”

The couple believe someone has picked the old dog up, and due to a microchipping error eight years ago – even if she had been taken to a vet to be scanned – no details would have shown up.

“The people who were supposed to enter her details on the database didn’t do it properly so she wasn’t registered until yesterday (August 16), so now if someone scans that microchip it will show the right details,” Ms Hennessy said.

The little dog has been by Ms Hennessy’s side through tough times, including a battle with breast cancer, a break-up and the loss of her mother.

“She was always there for me, she’s just the most beautiful little dog and has become such a part of my life – she’s really loving,” she said.

“I’m offering a reward, no questions asked and we’ve put posters up all around town, Hope Vale ... out at the Lion’s Den.”

Bridget came into Ms Hennessy’s life in an unusual way, left abandoned outside a church at the age of two.

“She was outside a church with a note written on her on a piece of envelope and it said: ‘please somebody love me and give me a good home, my name is Anna’, which was crossed out and then they wrote Bridget.

“She’s a really well-behaved dog, really quick and super smart.”

Ms Hennessy said Bridget needed daily medication for severe allergies.

“She’s just so desperately missed,” she said.

Anyone with information can contact Ms Hennessy on 0428 138 824.

Non-Executive Member

Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Board

Contribute to the Torres and Cape community to deliver exceptional healthcare

• Member opportunity for the Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Board

• Part-time statutory appointment commencing early 2024

• Diverse skills and experience required

The Opportunity

The Queensland Government delivers free universal healthcare to five million Queenslanders through Queensland Health. The Queensland Government is investing a record $23.6 billion into healthcare. The Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Board (HHB) is one of 16 statewide boards and provides governance to the Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service (HHS). The Torres and Cape HHS delivers hospital and healthcare services across Cape York and the Northern Peninsula Area, including 18 islands in the Torres Straits. All 16 HHBs, including the Torres and Cape HHB, are accountable to the Minister for Health, Mental Health and Ambulance Services and Minister for Women and must perform their functions in accordance with the Hospital and Health Boards Act 2011

Board members are community leaders and have the ability to contribute to shaping the future of health care in the region for which they are responsible, whilst enhancing the efficient, effective and sustainable delivery of health services.

Applications

The Queensland Government is seeking applications from appropriately experienced community members to fill a vacancy on the Torres and Cape HHB. Community members are being sought from the Torres and Cape region to be on the board. To be successful in this role, you:

• are ready and able to add value to the Board through your skills, knowledge and experience, including but not limited to any of the following areas of expertise: health management; business management; financial management; human resource management; clinical expertise; legal expertise; primary healthcare; health consumer and community engagement; and persons with skills, knowledge and experience in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and community issues

• are able to analyse, critically assess and drive performance

• have the confidence and connections to strengthen community engagement and collaborative partnerships

• are a leader who thinks strategically, embodies personal integrity, has political astuteness, commercial acumen, resilience and are a team player.

Applications are to be submitted online. For an information pack and instructions on how to submit your application please visit www.edenritchie.com.au/hhb-appointment/

This opportunity is an extension of a previous process and previous applicants will still be considered and do not need to reapply.

These opportunities are remunerated in accordance with Queensland Government guidelines.

We strongly encourage First Nations people, women, people with expertise in multiculturalism, young people, and people with disabilities to apply. A range of probity checks will be undertaken for persons being considered for appointment.

Applications close midnight, Friday 1 September 2023.

Should you wish to receive assistance on submitting your expression of interest, please contact Eden Ritchie Recruitment via Justine Eden on 0412 156 930.