Anne Marie Black
Pharmacist, Cairns Hospital
"There are too many positive life changes since moving from the UK. We can pick up the kids and head straight to the beach every day".
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Location: 1,900km north west of Brisbane, 530km south west of Cairns, 639km north east of Mt Isa, 156km south east of Normanton
Croydon is a cosy historical mining town located in the heart of the Gulf Savannah in North West Queensland. Originally a pastoral holding, Croydon became a successful mining town when gold was discovered in 1885. Gold was extracted from the region for over 40 years, attracting a population of 10,000 at its peak. By 1915, the mine was exhausted, and by 1926, operations shut altogether. Today, Croydon’s economy is based on grazing and an emerging tourism industry. The town offers a quiet and relaxed outback lifestyle with modern amenities and a friendly community.
As a health practitioner at Croydon Hospital, you will be delivering accident and emergency care and primary health care with the Royal Flying Doctor Services and allied health outreach services.
Dressings, clinical assessments, child health, immunisation, medication, women's health, palliative care, post acute care, school screening and health promotion services are also provided.
The Hospital is open 9am-4pm weekdays and on weekends for emergencies only.
Like many small Queensland towns established during the gold rush era, Croydon consists of a number of colonial style and heritage listed historic buildings – all part of Croydon’s outback charm. Among them are the Mining Museum and the Chinese Temple site. During the gold rush, locations across Queensland received an influx of Chinese immigrants who developed stunning temples and mini-townships of their own within the community they settled in. Croydon’s Temple is an excellent monument demonstrating the contribution the Chinese population made to Queensland towns during this period.
The township is well serviced with access to modern telecommunications and a wide range of other community services. Warm days, cool nights, low humidity and dry winters are features of the climate enjoyed by residents. Nearby Lake Belmore, just 4 kilometres from town, is a great place for a barbecue and a swim, maybe even to go waterskiing or catch a Barramundi.
The people of Croydon take pride in their community and their dedication to the town can be seen through Croydon’s immaculate parks, playgrounds and public recreation areas. The Croydon Shire Council promotes the building of ‘community cohesion’ through the town’s reputation for friendliness and bush hospitality – a reputation confirmed by the 2008 Ergon Energy Tidy Towns Award for 'Friendliest Town'.
The Poddy Dodgers Festival is a three-day event held in September every year. Featuring live music, free camping, horse and cattle competitions, fireworks, and food, this event is fun for all ages. Another must have experience is on The Gulflander, an historic railway link established in the 1800s to service the gold boom. The train journey which runs between Normanton and Croydon is not just a train ride – it’s a total outback experience. It provides an historic journey through savannah country on original and unique termite resistant, heritage listed steel rails and sleepers. The Gulflander travels to the architectural award winning reconstructed Croydon Station weekly, staying overnight Wednesday before returning to Normanton on Thursdays.
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Queensland Health facility address
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