At 86, Elaine McCormick is not your average pharmacist! Discover how she's still taking care of Queensland's Outback communities
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When we talk about retirement, for most of us, it's the moment we cross our sixties and put aside our work gear for quieter, more relaxed activities. But not our dear Elaine McCormick, better known as ‘Mrs Mac’, smashing the societal norms at the age of 86, proving to all that age is just a number. This outback pharmacist continues to share her love and passion for healthcare in rural and remote regions across Queensland.
Now you may be scratching your head and asking, what makes Elaine so special? Buckle up because we are about to embark on a journey full of passion, audacity, and commitment that has spanned an impressive 65 years, fuelled by her dedication to health care in the bush.
Elaine has spent her life not only supporting new mothers on remote cattle stations but also nursing cancer patients in isolation. Distance hasn't been an obstacle. She ensures they receive all their medication and care, brightening lives with her unwavering dedication.
She has become a legend amongst the outback folks with her 'special cream', her magic potion known for healing skin ailments common in the country. Her reputation of not mincing words and adopting a 'can do' attitude has only added to her admiration and respect within these down-to-earth communities.
'My primary focus has always been to help people, especially those in the bush gaps,' Elaine explains with a twinkle in her eye. Presently, she works as a locum pharmacist, dividing her time between Forrest Beach, north of Townsville, and the rural community of Hughenden in Queensland's northwest.
Taking us down memory lane, Elaine takes pride in how rural health care has evolved since she started as a chemist at the tender age of 21. Terms like 'innovation' and 'resilience' were her guiding philosophies, especially when traditional routes to communication were almost non-existent, with only radio links and treacherous dirt roads connecting these isolated communities.
Elaine made a significant mark in 1989 when she shifted base from Allora, south of Toowoomba, to the outback town of Cloncurry. She calls this move her career's turning point. That's when 'Mrs Mac' established satellite pharmacies in the remote terrains of Julia Creek, Richmond, Normanton, Karumba, and McKinlay. She reminisces the days when she relied on a network of fax machines and daily or weekly buses to facilitate medical supplies to patients residing remotely.
Being a mother to seven children didn't deter Elaine, rather, it enhanced her compassion towards young mothers on the livestock stations. In areas where doctors were a rare sight, like Karumba, Elaine became the go-to person for emergencies.
Fellow townsfolk like Cloncurry local Lyn Cross believe that Elaine is the reason their children are healthy. '[Mrs Mac] took care of us, she is a remarkable pharmacist,' she says. Similarly, Judith Ontronen, another Cloncurry resident, echoes these sentiments, declaring that 'Mrs Mac should be recognised for all the work she has contributed to small towns and communities.'
For her tireless commitment to healthcare, indomitable spirit, and vivacious character, Elaine McCormick, a.k.a Mrs Mac, has carved her name in the annals of Australian Outback folklore. She signifies a spirit we at the SDC adore—the spirit to continue growing, learning and serving—irrespective of our age!
Elaine's story is all about refusing to let the years define her. She has chosen to define them instead. In a world where we're often confined to societal expectations and stereotypical norms, Elaine's story is a breath of fresh air. It's a testament to the fact that with the right mindset, age is indeed just a number. Retirement is a concept she has chosen to redefine and reinvent, fitting it around her passion.
To all our brilliant SDC members out there, you still have so much potential. Never let the number of candles on your birthday cake determine your ability to make a difference in the world.
Now you may be scratching your head and asking, what makes Elaine so special? Buckle up because we are about to embark on a journey full of passion, audacity, and commitment that has spanned an impressive 65 years, fuelled by her dedication to health care in the bush.
Elaine has spent her life not only supporting new mothers on remote cattle stations but also nursing cancer patients in isolation. Distance hasn't been an obstacle. She ensures they receive all their medication and care, brightening lives with her unwavering dedication.
She has become a legend amongst the outback folks with her 'special cream', her magic potion known for healing skin ailments common in the country. Her reputation of not mincing words and adopting a 'can do' attitude has only added to her admiration and respect within these down-to-earth communities.
Elaine McCormick, or 'Mrs Mac' is still going strong at 86 years young! Source: Rohan McCormick via ABC
'My primary focus has always been to help people, especially those in the bush gaps,' Elaine explains with a twinkle in her eye. Presently, she works as a locum pharmacist, dividing her time between Forrest Beach, north of Townsville, and the rural community of Hughenden in Queensland's northwest.
Taking us down memory lane, Elaine takes pride in how rural health care has evolved since she started as a chemist at the tender age of 21. Terms like 'innovation' and 'resilience' were her guiding philosophies, especially when traditional routes to communication were almost non-existent, with only radio links and treacherous dirt roads connecting these isolated communities.
Elaine made a significant mark in 1989 when she shifted base from Allora, south of Toowoomba, to the outback town of Cloncurry. She calls this move her career's turning point. That's when 'Mrs Mac' established satellite pharmacies in the remote terrains of Julia Creek, Richmond, Normanton, Karumba, and McKinlay. She reminisces the days when she relied on a network of fax machines and daily or weekly buses to facilitate medical supplies to patients residing remotely.
Being a mother to seven children didn't deter Elaine, rather, it enhanced her compassion towards young mothers on the livestock stations. In areas where doctors were a rare sight, like Karumba, Elaine became the go-to person for emergencies.
Fellow townsfolk like Cloncurry local Lyn Cross believe that Elaine is the reason their children are healthy. '[Mrs Mac] took care of us, she is a remarkable pharmacist,' she says. Similarly, Judith Ontronen, another Cloncurry resident, echoes these sentiments, declaring that 'Mrs Mac should be recognised for all the work she has contributed to small towns and communities.'
Elaine's story is all about refusing to let the years define her. She has chosen to define them instead. In a world where we're often confined to societal expectations and stereotypical norms, Elaine's story is a breath of fresh air. It's a testament to the fact that with the right mindset, age is indeed just a number. Retirement is a concept she has chosen to redefine and reinvent, fitting it around her passion.
To all our brilliant SDC members out there, you still have so much potential. Never let the number of candles on your birthday cake determine your ability to make a difference in the world.
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