QUEENSLAND’s Governor has made a flying visit to Augathella and Charleville but some locals only found out at the last minute.
Augathella residents received an ‘official invitation’ via a social media post by the Murweh Shire Council on Wednesday (September 9) morning, barely five hours before Her Excellency arrived for a civic reception at the Augathella Town Hall, commencing 11.45am. It’s unclear how many people turned up.
In Charleville, the traditional owners, the Bidjara people, only received their invitation less than 48 hours before a similar event at the Charleville Town Hall where 4RR-FM, owned by Bidjara Media and Broadcasting and the only locally-based media, struggled to get an interview with Dr Jeannette Young.
“You’ve got some real characters in this community,” Dr Young told 4RR-FM. “It’s a beautiful community. I’ve just enjoyed going up to the hospital and meeting your people there in the aged care facility. Boy, they’ve got some stories and they’re so well looked after.”
4RR-FM was not invited to Dr Young’s milestone visit to the Charleville Hospital, with no media alert issued from anyone.
“It’s being looked after by the Governor’s team,” a spokesman for Queensland Health told us via email.
The Governor’s visit to the Charleville Hospital was more significant than usual, marking Her Excellency’s 150th visit to a Queensland public hospital or health service, honouring a public commitment to visit every public hospital in the State during her five-year term.
Over two days, Her Excellency, accompanied by her husband, Professor Graeme Nimmo RFD, visited five South-West Hospital and Health Service facilities across Injune, Mitchell, Augathella and Charleville including the Waroona Aged Care Facility, as mentioned in her brief interview with 4RR-FM.
South-West Hospital and Health Service Acting Health Service Chief Executive Rebecca Greenway said, “the milestone was a remarkable achievement and an important recognition of the people working across Queensland’s public health system,”
“Her Excellency has shown an incredible commitment to visiting communities across Queensland and meeting the dedicated people who provide care in our hospitals and health services,” Ms Greenway said.
Her 150th public hospital or health service visit is a wonderful milestone, and we are delighted that Charleville Hospital will be where she completes her commitment to visiting every public hospital in Queensland.
“For our staff, these visits are a genuine opportunity to showcase the important work being done every day across our region and to share the experiences of the communities we serve.”
The Governor concludes her five-year term on November 1.
PHOTO: Queensland Governor Dr Jeannette Young (pictured at centre) on her visit to the Injune Hospital this week.
POSTED: Friday, September 11, 2026