From Byron Bay to a war zone – doctor’s frontline experience inspires new book

KATIE Treble knew little about the Central African Republic before she was posted there for a six-month stint as a doctor with the humanitarian organisation Médecins Sans Frontières.

She soon found herself in the middle of a war zone in Bria — a remote blood-diamond mining town controlled by rebel militia — where violence was escalating rapidly.

Originally from England, Treble had moved to Byron Bay in 2012 for a working holiday and spent the next five years working in emergency departments across Byron, Mullumbimby, Murwillumbah and Tweed Heads.

But her dream had always been to work for an NGO, and Médecins Sans Frontières was at the top of her list.

“They’re often the first people on the ground and the last to leave and they’re very ethical compared to a lot of other NGOs where a lot of money goes to advertising and bureaucracy,” she said. “They’re also neutral – they don’t take money from governments or religious organisations.”

While she had initially been assigned to treat children with malaria, the civil war worsened dramatically during her time there, leading to several adult mass casualty events.

“There were groups of rebel militia that would come to the town and fight each other, and we had to look after whoever came in,” she said.

One of the worst massacres occurred the same weekend that 22 people were killed in a terrorist attack at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester.

“That was all over the news for weeks,” Treble said. “When I left, I felt there was a massive disproportion in what’s newsworthy and what’s not.”

Determined to raise awareness of the country and its struggles, Treble decided to write a book about her experiences. Field Notes from Death’s Door offers a rare and personal insight into life in one of the world’s most overlooked conflict zones.

“The more I started digging the more I was fascinated by the history,” she said.

Treble relocated to Melbourne to begin work at Monash University, conducting research into PTSD, in 2024. But she had previously been a regular at The Book Room in Byron Bay, and when the store’s owner was filling out an order form for her book, he recognised her name and invited her to launch it there.

She will launch Field Notes from Death’s Door at 6pm on Wednesday July 9.

To register visit thebookroomcollective.com