I have been reflecting on missionaries in two places we located in during the 1970’s. My memories are not happy.

In one place if you were not a missionary, forget medical care and support in times of illness. If you were not an aboriginal person, you got nothing and if you were sick and needed medical attention, it was ‘shankses pony’. The flying doctor was not for you. This happened for us in this particular location on several occasions.

In another place I became ill with hepatitis. The LAST persons I could count on were the mission nurses. Seemingly I had brought my illness on myself.

Missionaries were very good at leaving those who were more secularly oriented in isolation ABC without support within these communities.