NZ is good at training medical professionals but not good at retaining them. So we rely on overseas trained doctors especially to fill the need.
My home town is attracting some top line professionals for our health services.
It's a nice place to live.
#healthcare
#doctors
#MedicalProfessionals
#Timaru

When the small South Island town of Timaru and its cluster of US doctors hit the front page of the Wall Street Journal last week, it highlighted New Zealand's dependence on overseas doctors, particularly in rural and regional parts of the country.

https://youtu.be/Z8rDmuObO0U?si=9O7Zyyn5zR9ixKQ4

It's surprising how many people in Timaru rely on AI in their daily lives.

People using Google's Gemini AI to search for "Timaru Hospital" received the correct result with contact details. But those searching for "Timaru Hospital phone number" were offered a direct line to a local café called Sopheze, 15-20 times a day for several weeks.

Naturally Google didn't respond until media got involved.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/592391/timaru-cafe-inundated-with-calls-after-ai-tool-lists-phone-number-for-hospital

#AI #Timaru

_The Evening Post_, 8 May 1925:
PERSONAL MATTERS
…
Mr. C. N. #Orbell, one of the oldest and best-known residents of South #Canterbury, who died at his home, “The Levels,” #Timaru, on Tuesday evening, after a long illness, was born in 1841 at Essex, where he was educated. He came to New Zealand in the sailing ship Metropolis, in 1863, landing at Lyttelton. … He was interested in sport of all sorts. But it is in connection with his work as a sheep breeder that Mr. Orbell’s name will be best remembered. He and Mr. W. S. Davison were originators of the #Corriedale sheep, the most noted breed in New Zealand to-day, and if he had done nothing but this his name would be entitled to a place in the list of those who have rendered the Dominion signal service. Mr. Orbell married Miss Fergusson, a cousin to a former Governor of New Zealand—Sir James Fergusson—in 1879. He had five children—Mr. W. H. Orbell, Mr. C. I. Orbell, Mrs. Maurice Harper, and the Misses Orbell (two).
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19250508.2.106
See also https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corriedale

#OnThisDay #OTD #PapersPast #Obituaries #Sheep #SheepBreeds #Agriculture #NewZealand

A Sovereign Citizen builds a swimming pool... and you'll never believe what happens next!

In Timaru court Simon Richardt claimed he was "Simon in the living" -- the judge said he was not there to play “Simon says”. And the judge's final comment is a beaut.

"Ignorance of the law is not a defence and neither is ignorance in general.”

Fined $18,000.

Touché!

https://www.thepress.co.nz/nz-news/360671571/18k-fines-swimming-pool-owner-continues-defy-building-act-orders

#NZ #SovCit #Timaru

_The Evening Post_, 14 March 1925:
The Wireless World
…
A TIMARU EXPERIENCE
During a holiday in the South, "Grid-Bias" called on a #Timaru amateur, who demonstrated the character of reception in that town.…Static put on one of its finest performances…. In spite of the din, the party listened to 1YA, 2YK, 2YM, KGO, 2BL, and 2FC…. The strength of KGO, second only to that of 2YK, was remarkable. A curious feature of the performance was that 2BL, Sydney, was as strong as 2FC, and at times stronger. The apparatus used [technical details follow].… The owner states that in the winter he regularly receives 2YK and 4YA on a short indoor aerial. This is a ridiculous appendage to the set—about four yards of copper strip suspended across the room. The Timaru amateur takes his hobby seriously. Besides using his apparatus consistently for entertainment, he is systematically recording the weather and radio reception conditions, particularly the nature and intensity of static.… The nature of the static observed on a given date and the weather which follows may suggest similar weather after a similar outburst of atmospherics; and… may be found very useful in the work of weather experts.
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19250314.2.146.3

#OnThisDay #OTD #PapersPast #Radio #AmateurRadio #WeatherForecasting #NewZealand