Monday, 5 December 2011

Cathy in Mt Isa about to join Eric in NZ

Mt Isa is situated 1830km NW of Brisbane and 900km SW of Townsville, surrounded by the harsh but picturesque ochre- red Selwyn Ranges. It is on the banks of the Leichhardt river which changes from a dry river bed in the dry season to a flooded river in the wet season.
Copper, zinc lead and silver are mined here. Twice a day there is an earth tremor caused by the underground blasting.
My 6 week midwifery contract in Mt Isa finishes today and I fly to NZ to join Eric. We will resume our cruising aboard our yacht "Erica" in January.
This has been my 3rd time working at Mt Isa hospital. It has been nice to catch up with past colleagues and meet other agency staff
The hospital is undergoing some renovations and a face lift as well as some extentions..

I spent my days off getting fit, by walking and doing aqua aerobics in the pool.
A popular walk by the hospital staff is to a lookout named "Cardiac hill" . It is a great hike with views over the town, mine and countryside. My favourite time to walk is at dawn before the sun gets too hot.

Looking down the road
View of the mine
Typical landscape
                                                       Spinifex

Another lookout takes in a closer view over the town and mining area.

                                             Mt Isa Base Hospital
Icons around town



 During WW2 when bombs were dropped on Darwin an underground hospital was built in fear that Mt Isa could be a target. The tall smoke stacks of the mines would have provided an easy target for the Japanese planes

My accomodation was great. A large room with table and chairs, a desk, fridge and ensuite, overlooking the pool.. We shared a common room with kitchen, dining area and lounge

View from my room

The town centre is only a few minutes walk from the Staff quarters
During the storms we had alot of rain and high humidity which set off the fire alarms. Several times we had to evacuate the staff quarters.

waiting to get the all clear
Pictures around town


Six weeks was very quickly gone and after saying "farewell" to new and old friends and colleagues I turn another page in the story of our lives. New discoveries, adventures and people to be met.


SV Erica

SV Erica

About Me

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We met in 1971 and it was Eric's dream to build his own yacht and sail the world. This became a joint dream but it was not until 1994 that we were able to start building. "Erica" was launched in 2001 after 7yrs building her. It then took us 5 yrs to prepare her and ourselves before leaving NZ to see the world

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