Health - Mystery Donor Brings Heart Health To Rural Australia

The Heart of Australia mobile cardiology clinic will bring specialty care to more towns in the Outback thanks to an anonymous donor's million dollar gift.

The father of the rolling clinic, Brisbane cardiologist Dr. Rolf Gomes, says the donation came out of the blue and will allow him to put a second unit on the road.  Dr. Gomes put together the original Heart of Australia by equipping a 25-meter truck with all of the kit that one would fund in a big-city practice. 

"Not every day does someone offer you a million dollars to build your dream," Dr Gomes said.  "I nearly fell off the back of my chair."

The family that donated the money doesn't want to go public.  They told the ABC's Australian Story that their inspiration came from a talk Dr. Gomes gave at an event last year, and that they made the donation in memory of their late father who also wanted to improve health care in the bush.