Remote Aboriginal community CEO charged * UPDATED*
The only nurse at a remote Western Desert community said she abruptly lost her job after raising questions about the CEO and store manager.
The nurse asked not to be named.
She said although Pungurr CEO Ian Geoffrey Underwood was supposed to help she often found it difficult to find him when she needed to lift a patient onto a stretcher.
"With an evac you often need assistance whether it's with an ambulance trolley or getting someone to drive or just to assist you with the safe transfer of a patient from the clinic to the airstrip,” she said.”
“Often you'd need assistance and to my understanding Ian Underwood was the heavy strong one in community that could possibly help you. The locals couldn't because of payback principles so it should be a Caucasion person or somebody that's not a Martu person."
The nurse said the office often closed without warning, sometimes for several days, along with the store which was run by the CEO’s wife.
"He wasn't available, often he was difficult to find or locate,” she said.
“I'd be told by his wife Jonna that he's in Newman, or he's out, or his phone wasn't answering. So that was concerning considering he was the man to assist with my jobs to get people to the airstrip or to help out."
She said she and the community school teacher abruptly lost their jobs when they complained.
When Ngaarda Media called him on Wednesday Mr Underwood declined to comment.
He is due to face court next month on a string of charges.
On February 16, Ian Geoffrey Underwood is to appear before the District Court Judge at South Hedland for a Trial Listing Hearing.
He is charged with Threatening with Intent to Prevent or Hinder a Person doing an Act.
The day before, Mr Underwood is also to front the Magistrate at Newman for a string of charges.
These include three counts of making a threat to unlawfully do an act; and two counts each of Failing To Ensure Safe-Keeping of a Firearm or Ammunition; and of Endangering the life, health or safety of a person.