BEFORE his cancer fight, before Kambu Health had grown into one of Queensland’s leading Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled health organisations, before thousands of families had walked through its doors, Elder Errol Davidson was standing outside its original Roderick St building watching his father’s dream come to life.
Fifty years later, he returned to the same place to celebrate Kambu Health’s golden anniversary, reflecting on the remarkable journey from a small community clinic founded on the vision of his father, Les Davidson, to a health service that today cares for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people while also providing services to the broader community.
For Elder Davidson, the milestone was deeply personal.
As he addressed staff, Elders, community members and supporters at a commemorative morning tea, he paused several times to gather himself, overcome with emotion as memories of the organisation’s beginnings flooded back.
“Before we start this, I’d like to let you know that when this first started 50 years ago, I was right here,” he said.
“We were sitting in the back when Neville Bonner came out and gave that speech, and all of the brothers and Aunty Dorreen were all crying.”
His reflections were not only about the past but also about the role Kambu has played in saving his own life.
Elder Davidson revealed he almost never made it to the 50-year celebration after being diagnosed with cancer four years ago.
“I came home that day with a few tears in my eyes and I was going to give up hope.
“But only for Kambu here, and all the staff here, you’ve got no idea how much this means to me.”
Mr Davidson said the anniversary was a chance to honour the vision his father first had more than six decades ago, at a time when Aboriginal people faced widespread discrimination and had limited access to healthcare.
