QLD country tales on film
When Jonathan Duffy’s partner Dr Vincent Cornelisse accepted an offer to be ‘rurally bonded’ and work as a doctor in remote regional Queensland, a friend joked that the pair should record their move from Brisbane to Munduberra, 500km to the north-west, “in case they were murdered”.
Duffy did exactly that, and the resulting film, The Doctor’s Wife, will soon screen as part of the Tropical Alternatives Film Festival across Queensland.
“I thought it would go two ways — either I’d make an interesting film or we’d just have some really cool home videos. As it went on, I became really passionate about the message of the film, which is that the impossible isn’t impossible,” Duffy told the Star Observer.
“We were terrified of moving, and we didn’t need to be. We found we were going into the situation as a gay couple holding our own prejudices about people we didn’t know.”
The couple moved to Munduberra (population 1905) in 2008, and found their reputation preceded them.
“When you’re new to a small town, the locals already know who you are 20 minutes before you arrive. It was interesting, because we were thrust into this celebrity status at first — we didn’t know anyone but they knew us, and Vincent was someone they immediately liked, because country towns are crying out for doctors.”
The move has been an overwhelmingly positive experience.
“We worked hard to make it positive,” Duffy said.
“It was hard for me at first, because a lot of men who knew Vincent through the practice didn’t seem to know how to approach me as his partner. They’d almost look through me when we were out at the pub. But it didn’t take long for that to disappear.”
Duffy’s only experience of country homophobia so far has been hearing a gay slur shouted in his direction while he was at the bar at the local cricket ground.
“It was from someone who was out of town. As I turned around to respond, a big burly local dude put his hand on my shoulder and said, ‘Don’t worry mate, we’ll take care of this’. Apparently the Munduberra guys took this fella out and gave him a bit of a talking to: ‘You leave our doctor and his partner alone if you want to have a face!’ ”
Duffy said he’s now keen to “take on the world” with his finished film.
“If I have the numbers, I’ll bring it to Sydney and Melbourne. People can watch the videos online, follow the Doctor’s Wife on Twitter. If there are any groups who’d like to organise a screening, I’d love to come down and introduce it.”
info: Visit www.doctorswifemovie.com
What an amazing doco film… Real stories like this are what our community, and the wider needs to hear and see and experience.
Such experiences will advance acceptance more than any campaign will ever hope to achieve.
I’ll be lucky to see the premier screening in Cairns this weekend and get a chance to chat with Jonathan as well. Bonus!
I fully support and endorse everything Jonathon Duffy says here. I have lived in rural towns before who desperately need good doctors. The fact that these guys are also really great to know is a bonus.
So, all you wonderfully talented Doctors tired of the hustle and bustle – why not contact Queensland Health and see if you can get a job – a house – a life.
People in the bush are ‘real people’. No bullshit. Sure, they’ll know what colour undies you’re wearing on what day, but if you need any tips on how to keep a lid on your private life, I’m sure Jonathon would be happy to talk with you about it via facebook etc.
I am so keen for Jono’s project to succeed I’ve giving him free advertising on as many of my sites that will take it.
My husband is a Doctor and we braved it, and moved to the country a few years ago in Victoria. We have never looked back. We have had so much support from the community. We know our neighbours up down the street, and people just accept us. We recently brought a new block of land. The street had a BBQ for us and we met most of our new neighbours who asked us to drop around whenever we like. I could not imagine the acceptance and hospitality all those years ago living in the Melbourne CBD.
Most politicians have no clue how real Australians have moved on, and accept and welcome people in the GLBTI community into their lives. We are treated by the country towns we move in as just any other couple.