For Jan Simpson, this was her first return to Country in a quarter of a century.
Jan’s visit to her birthplace of Jigalong, which she left in 1985, followed a request from her sister Maria to visit and
catch up with family and old friends.
And, it was now possibly for Jan to do so, with the facilities of the new respite renal dialysis centre now available to
her. “I’m excited to be here, and to be with my sister - we were very happy to see each other,” Jan said.
“This is a very good facility, it’s very neat and clean, and the nurses are very good,” said Jan with a smile as nurse
Sue Taylor attended to her and nurse Mian Wong watched on through an adjacent office.
Nearby, Leslie Watson was also receiving treatment.
This was Leslie’s third session of treatments conducted over two weeks at the facility since services began last
September. It’s good to be back here, spending time with my wife and son,” said Leslie. “It feels good to be at this
facility. I look forward o being here. It’s home.”
The “Maintenance Crew”:  Meanwhile, when the dialysis centre is not in operation, a group of Year 8 students at the
nearby Jigalong Community School under the direction of teacher Andy Wilson have been helping keep the property’s
gardens and surrounds neat and tidy.
The boys honing their gardening skills are Aron Wumi, Ethan Patch, Adrian Dunn, Stanley Wongawol, Gareth Samson, Ainsley
Sammy, Aidan Crunkhorn, Shaun Oliver and Samuel Bosveld.