Residents in a remote Indigenous community in the Northern Territory are calling for an investigation into their local death rate, which they feel is unacceptably high. Their appeal reflects deep concern over a series of losses in a short period of time.
The Borroloola community of about 900 people, in the Northern Territory's Gulf of Carpentaria, says it is reeling from 15 deaths from chronic health conditions and suicide in just six months. For a community of its size, the toll has been felt acutely.
Residents have spoken of their shock at the scale of the losses, with many of those who died being young people. The grief has spread across families who say they have lost a large number of relatives in a short space of time.
Among those who died was the brother of resident Nancy McDinney, who died from cancer aged 50 last year. She described the pain of losing so many members of the community, including people younger than her.
Another resident, Maria Pairou, lost her 51-year-old aunt, Teresa Rory, who died from kidney and liver failure in January. Pairou said the community is losing so many lives that, in her view, could be prevented.
Families feel the Borroloola clinic, which is run by the Northern Territory government, does not provide enough health checks and prevention programs. They are calling on the Northern Territory government to do more to help, arguing that too many young people are dying.