JourneyOnline
IPS Publications- University of the South Pacific
RRP $30 which includes postage
When Ted Freeman sailed to the New Hebrides, now Vanuatu, to assume the responsibility of Superintendent of the Paton Memorial Hospital on the island of Iririki, he little knew he was to become a legend, and that he and his family would become part of the folklore of the small island nation.
Ted’s memoire is a compelling read. It is a deceptively simple story, told without heroics but filled with gripping episodes of the heroic medical exploits of a humble man with a great sense of humour.
One cannot but be amazed by his resourcefulness, his obvious professional skills and his dedication to the people he served. He was a man of vision with little time for humbug, whose determination overcame many of the obstacles that stood in the way of progress and the welfare of the people of Vanuatu.
But “Doctor in Vanuatu” is, above all, a love story. It is the love story of a husband and wife whose impact on the lives of the people of the New Hebrides has been profound. It is the love story of a family who thrived in living conditions that most would find intolerable. It is the love story of a man dedicated to the wellbeing of his fellow man and the employment of his professional skills in their service.
This is a book that should be compulsory reading for medical students, nurses and all those entering the so called health professions.
Doctor in Vanuatu … a memoir can be purchased from the author at PO Box 601 Moss Vale, NSW, 2577 or by email at HERE.
Reviewed by Warren L. Ogborne
