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Who will know my story now?

Ruth A Stewart
Med J Aust 2012; 197 (7): . || doi: 10.5694/mja12.10816
Published online: 1 October 2012

Long-term continuity of care and community engagement mean a lot to a doctor

When we pulled up in the driveway of our first rented house in Camperdown, south-west Victoria, a woman’s face appeared over the fence. “Hello”, she said, “Who are you? What are you doing here?” I explained that we were doctors and would be working in the town. “Oh, you got any family here?” I proudly named my great uncle who had been a general practitioner in the town for 20 years. Yes, she knew him. “One of their boys married a local didn’t he?” she said. I wondered how long it would take to be considered a local.


  • School of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD.



Acknowledgements: 

I would like to acknowledge Anthony Brown, rural generalist, my husband and professional colleague.

Competing interests:

No relevant disclosures.

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