The promise of some biscuits and a motorbike ride is what eight-year-old Edie Jane Rayner, Kimba, has offered any doctor that will answer her heartfelt letter.
A discussion at the dinner table prompted Edie to put the call out for her community, and her plea has since gone viral on social media.
“I wanted to write the letter because I thought we really needed a doctor,” Edie said.
“Sometimes I like going to the doctor because when I go the doctor, at the end of it, sometimes you get lollies.
“Mum wrote it on the computer, I just gave her lots of ideas.”
Edie and her family live on a farm seven kilometres east of Kimba, where her dad, Clint runs a mixed cereal business and Millbrae Poll Merino stud, and her mum, Carmen, creates soap for her business, Millbrae Makes
Impressed with her daughter’s efforts, Carmen posted the letter on Facebook.
“We’ve had so many people that used to live in Kimba or who know my family, message and ring and comment, and it’s been really lovely,” Carmen said.
“We haven't had a doctor since March and he was here for nearly 12 months, but before that I think we were about two years without a full-time doctor and being so remote, it’s just not good enough.”
Kimba locals have to travel to Cleve or rely on a locum doctor that visits two days a week.
Carmen said it was great to see such community mindedness in her children, and while Edie’s plea is yet to be answered, Carmen continues to help her get the message out there.
“Edie is a very good writer and her voice is a lot louder than anyone else’s at the moment so she might write another letter to our local MP this weekend,” Carmen said.
PASSIONATE PLEA
Dear doctors,
My name is Edie Rayner and I am eight years old. I come from Kimba, it's pretty small and we don't have a doctor anymore.
Can you please come to Kimba and be our doctor? All of the people here are really nice, but some kids are really sick and it makes their mums and dads very sad. Some really old people are sick too, like my Great Big Grandma, but she died.
My dad will show you all around our farm and show you how to shear a sheep and ride a motorbike. My mum will make you some pretty soap and probably some biscuits.
If you can come to Kimba I will be very happy.I think you should ring Mayor Dean at the Council because he knows everything about Kimba. Connie and Reg want you to come to Kimba too. Connie is 6 and Reggie is 5.
From
Edie Jane Rayner
