The Further Tales of a Country Doctor are Carter's continuing stories of the tapestry of life as drawn from overseeing a small-town medical practice in rural Australia.
Over the years, in both private and professional capacities, Carter's fellow community members have taken him into their lives and opened themselves up to him. They have shared their hopes, their fears, their highs, and their lows. Now their generosity extends to allowing him to share all this with a wider audience.
This series of interlinking short stories are not only about these everyday heroes of rural Australia, but also about the two-way nature of friendship and healing. Rich, spirited, irresistible, often funny, sometimes sombre, but overwhelmingly uplifting, the humanity of these stories will stay with you for a long time.
Paul Carter was born in Warwickshire, England, and trained at Guy's Hospital in London. He migrated to Australia in 1976 as a pathologist. In 1986, on a tree-changing whim, he moved from inner city Melbourne to regional Victoria, bought a farm, and changed his career path to general practice.
He has now spent over thirty years providing the Central Highlands area with a dedicated and caring medical service. Paul is devoted to this community and offers help way beyond the confines of his consulting room. For many, he is not just a family doctor but also a confidante, advocate, priest, batsman, bowler, banker, friend, topic of gossip, and even best man.
Twenty years ago he met Gilly. It was love at first sight, and he has been privileged to share his life with her ever since.
As well as running his practice, managing his farm and writing these stories, Paul is also a portrait painter, devoted husband, father, and grandfather. Despite his many talents and strengths, however, he does have his shortcomings: he can neither cook, hit a golf ball, juggle, nor dance the tango.
