Thongs donation heading for Cape York and Torres Strait communities

More than 600 pairs of thongs will soon be on their way to remote communities on Cape York Peninsula and the Torres Strait to help ensure patients can board flights to access health care in larger centres.

The donation of thongs was organised and supported by staff at the Caboolture and Kilcoy hospitals in southern Queensland, with further support from some commercial organisations.

The Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service took delivery of the boxes of donated thongs from Queensland Rail in Cairns today after they were shipped from Brisbane on the Spirit of Queensland.

Member for Cook Cynthia Lui said the donation would allow a stock of footwear to be stored at local airports and health care centres so they could be provided to clients and patients before they boarded flights.

“People who turn up without appropriate footwear are often unable to board their scheduled flights to access necessary health care in larger centres,” Ms Lui said.

“Without footwear, they miss their flights and their entire travel plans and clinical appointments must be rescheduled.”

“This initiative is a simple way to ensure people are not stopped from accessing the only specialist health services that may be available to them."

“This support is thanks to the enterprising Nurse Navigators in the Metro North Hospital and Health Service who first identified this as an issue and would not have been possible without the incredible generosity of many individuals and organisations working together.”

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said the donation would benefit dozens of people in isolated communities on Cape York Peninsula.

“These thongs have already taken a 1600-kilometre journey aboard the Spirit of Queensland from Brisbane to Cairns,” Mr Bailey said.

“That journey will soon continue on to the Cape and I’m glad Queensland Rail has been able to support this wonderful initiative.

“This is a true example of Queensland’s strong sense of community spirit and generosity and I congratulate everyone involved.”

Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service Nurse Navigators Manager Rachel Sargeant thanked her Queensland Health colleagues for turning an inspired idea into reality.

“I’d like to thank my Nurse Navigator colleagues in the Metro North Hospital and Health Service and the entire staffs of the Caboolture and Kilcoy hospitals who got this thongs donation drive under way in the first place and contributed generously,” Ms Sargeant said.

“I’d also like to thank Kmart at Morayfield and also QSuper and First Choice Care.

“And of course, there’s the Prince Charles Hospital Foundation and Queensland Rail who organised the transport of the thongs to Cairns without cost.’

“It’s been an amazing experience and an incredible example of the generosity of the human spirit.”

ENDS

Media: Toby Walker – 0439 347 875