Is anyone coming?

The sun filtered in as he cradled his chin
in the palm of his long-serving hand,
as he relived the days of his work in the haze
way outback in our Great Southern Land.

It seems too much to ask, but he's stuck to his task
for the span of five decades or so;
but his heart it is yearning, his stomach is churning,
and he feels it's now high time to go.

Ten years have passed by since he first wondered why
there was no-one to answer his call —
his practice for sale, but there lies a tale —
he's just waited and waited, that's all.

Will anyone follow his work on the morrow?
Have our med schools dried up like Lake Eyre?
For each greying carthorse, let's renew the workforce
and steer our old docs from despair!