Another Future
“If they can get you asking the wrong questions, they don’t have to worry about answers.”
(Thomas Pynchon, Gravity’s Rainbow)
My name is Dr Gavin Colthart, a GP and emergency doctor based on Yunbenun/Magnetic Island, unceded lands of the Wulgurukaba people. This website provides further information for members of the RACGP on my somewhat reluctant and last minute candidacy for the RACGP Presidency.
My campaign isn’t about selling me but is about ideas and alternatives. And I’m aware I am far from the appropriate voice to speak to many of the issues covered, although I have plenty to say if invited.
The web design is as un-slick as I can make it while still functioning. As a consolation there are some nice photos of our fellow earth-inhabitants scattered throughout.
My aim is to highlight ideas and perspectives without relying too much on the tools of marketing and propaganda. One of my concerns, and reasons for standing for this position, is that trying to copy the styles and language of the corporate world makes us as doctors vulnerable to internalising its values, and constrains our freedom to express views that are outside its boundaries.
A note on this campaign:
A brief written statement and a video outlining my key ideas and concerns are available via the RACGP elections page. There will be no social media campaign or press releases but I am happy to respond to requests for interviews or to answer genuine questions, and this site will be updated when I have time. I very deliberately do not have anyone running my online presence and am continuing to work during this campaign period, including on-call commitments.
Also, my opinions are my own and I would not want to risk embarrassing any of the organisations I link to or mention with any suggestion they have endorsed my candidacy. I’m aging steadily into my curmudgeonhood and find I often disagree on significant issues with people and organisations I should logically be supporting (but try to support them anyway). In other words, a mention or link is not a blanket endorsement - you are all smart enough to read potentially contentious or wrong-headed material and draw your own conclusions.
I hope this campaign gives you something to think about and perhaps sparks a sense of moral ambition to make our world a better place.