RHAC Newsletter: Healthy Bites Jan-Mar 2010 - School of Rural ...

Start your day with some healthy bites from the
School of Rural Health’s Quarterly Internal Newsletter..
The University of Melbourne’s School of Rural Health
Volume 7, Issue 1
...a bright spark from our editor...
Jan—Mar 2010
New Staff Profiles 2-4
RCS News 5
CERSH News 6
Welcome back to all staff and
students. Staff wise we have
many more new personnel commencing this
year . At the Shepparton campus we
welcome Peter Ferguson, in the role of
Lecturer in Indigenous Rural Health Studies,
Katie Corboy, as the Undergraduate
Programs Officer, Fran Smullen in the role of
Lecturer in Rural Health Community Liaison,
Gordon Dosser who is the new Maintenance
and Utilites Officer and Marie (as in the
biscuit) Beer who has taken up the position
of Project Officer for 12 months while Nicole
Van Riet is on maternity leave. We also
welcome back Lena Cross from her maternity
leave.
In Ballarat we welcome Michelle Chart who is
the new UDRH Administration Officer. While
in Wangaratta, we said goodbye to Michelle
Dack who left us on the18th February for
newer horizons.
This edition, we bring you all the usual
stories, announcements and updates, as well
as some new staff profiles. Until the next
edition...Happy Reading!
~Cheers Lucia
If you have any interesting stories or articles you
would like to have published, please email me at
luciar@unimelb.edu.au
Shepparton Medical
Centre
Research Ethic News
Japanese Visitors
Storm Damage
Announcements
A Big Thumbs Up
Social News
Fish Naming Comp.
Upcoming Events
Contact Details
DEADLINE:
ITEMS FOR NEXT
ISSUE DUE
11 JUNE 2010
Please ensure you get
your articles to
luciar@unimelb.edu.au
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Tigers, with clarity of purpose, can act decisively: but should we?
Tigers appear
to clearly know
what they want
and they
pursue their
ends with no
other
considerations, including no
thought for other beasts or
humans. Human (inter)
actions are usually less clear
cut.
If we accept that it is
admirable to have clear
general aims for our self and
our communities, e.g. “the
greatest good for the greatest
number (as long as we are
OK”), then any conflicts
between self and (different)
community interests lead to
uncertainty of action.
Some examples:
∗ How do we protect the civil
rights of potential victims
of terrorism while at least
minimizing the risks to any
bystanders in any antiterrorist
action?
∗ Or closer to home, how
do we protect the rights of
privacy of individuals ,who
might put the community
at risk, while minimising
the risk to that community
e.g. whole body scanners
at airports?
∗ Or what is, and how do
we achieve, the right
balance in the criminal
justice system between
convicting the innocent
and setting free the
guilty?
These problems are not
new, and our processes for
dealing with them have
evolved over time,
responding to community
concerns and leading to
some level of (dis)
satisfaction.
But if we are not happy with
current outcomes, how do
we change our laws or
processes to achieve our
aims? Or how do we set up
systems to deal with new
conflicts?
While the aim may be clear,
the right path is often
debatable, with the risk of
getting it wrong including the
risks of unforeseen
consequences.
Deng Xiaoping is quoted, in
translation, as describing his
policy for action, in a
turbulent time in Chinese
history, as “fording a river
by feeling for the stones with
your feet”.
In contrast to running along
a predetermined path
(stepping stones) across the
river, this metaphor
presumes that change is
implemented in steps,
assessing the soundness of
each step in turn.
It also presumes there may
be more than one path
across the river and that you
might have to turn back and
retrace some of your steps
to find a viable path.
Continued next page...

Page 2
Tigers, with clarity of purpose, can act decisively: but should we?
…continued from previous page
This ”fording a river”
approach is obviously
unsatisfactory when urgent
action is required, as when
communities are in imminent
danger.
But for most of life’s
dilemmas the “fording a river”
approach seems more likely
to best satisfy the different
interests of different
communities (while ensuring
as best as possible that we
are ok).
And, based on my
experience, I would also
recommend it for
interpersonal relations,
anywhere.
~ Bill Adam
New Staff Profile 1...Karyn Ferguson
Karyn Ferguson
Karyn Ferguson started at
the School of Rural Health
late last year. Her job title is
Cultural Safety Officer and
Community Partnerships
Facilitator. She co-ordinates
the Cultural Awareness
training for the Rural Health
Module medical students,
develops partnerships with
other community
organisations, and works on
other projects that are
happening within or outside
of the University.
Karyn is a local Yorta Yorta
woman and has lived in
Mooroopna/Shepparton all
her life. She and her partner
Travis have two beautiful
children, Will who is 4 and
Ellie who is 2.
“Our family connections are
along the Goulburn and
Murray riverlands of
Shepparton, Barmah and
Echuca”, she said.
Before commencing at SRH
Karyn worked for many
years at the Rumbalara
Aboriginal Health Service in
the Women’s and Maternal
Health arena. She worked in
the Birthing Program and cocoordinated
the Gynae
clinic.
“I am passionate about
women’s health and was
lucky enough to be
mentored by Kaye Briggs a
senior Indigenous woman
who had worked in the area
of Birthing and Women’s
Health for many years and
was a strong advocate for
better Indigenous health
outcomes.
“I see my job here as a great
opportunity to educate
students, who will ultimately
be treating and caring for
Indigenous people, about
Indigenous culture and
people, and hopefully to
help create change” she
said.
Outside of work, Karyn
plays netball for the
Rumbalara Football Netball
Club, and enjoys keeping fit
and healthy.
“I also love clothes,
shopping for clothes and
talking about clothes! I love
having coffee with the girls. I
love magazines and movies.
I love my culture, having
conversations about culture
and hearing yarns from
older family and people
about our culture. I love
taking photo’s and looking
at photo’s, especially old
ones! And of course I love
spending time with my kids
and family’, she said.
New Staff Profile 2...Katie Corboy
Katie Corboy
On January 4 th 2010 Katie
Corboy made the big move
across the road (from GV
Health) to start in her new
appointment at SRH’s
Shepparton Campus as
Administration Officer -
Undergraduate Programs.
“I really look forward to
working closely with all the
staff and students at the
Rural Clinical School”, Katie
said.
Katie previously spent three
years working at GV Health,
12 months as an HR
Receptionist and two years
in the Quality Unit working
on the approval and
updates of Clinical Practice
Guidelines and Consumer
Publications.
Katie lives eight minutes
south of Cobram on a small
40 acre property and travels
across each day to work –
which she says is “pure bliss
after driving one hr and 10
minutes for the past two
years!!”
On her property, Katie
breeds and raises registered
Paint Horses which is her
passion.
“I strive to breed to the
standard with temperament
second to none and colour a
bonus. I have a keen
interest in equine genetics
which I dabble in to
selectively breed foals
aiming for a desired colour,
pattern and type, leaving as
little to chance as possible”,
she said.
She also owns two “wildly
wicked whippets”, named
Gracie and Mia. Both are
reportedly “spoilt rotten” and
are the apple of her eye.
Katie has a general
fascination for all creatures
with the exception of
uninvited arachnids which
she says constantly try to
inhibit her living space!!
Continued next page...

Volume 7, Issue 1
The University of Melbourne’s School of Rural Health
Page 3
New Staff Profile 2...Katie Corboy…continued from previous page
Many of her other general
interests include: culinary,
horticulture, literature,
drawing and she tells me,
“whatever hands on fad she
has at the moment to satisfy
her creative streak and need
to deconstruct things, and to
put them together again to
learn the fundamentals of
how they work.”
This month it happens to be
making her own horse leads
and halters. “Which is a
series of insufferably
punishing knots”, she said.
“Being me, I never do things
in halves, so I have ordered
an excessive amount of
ropes, so if anyone is short
of any leads and halters, let
me know, I have more than
what I require!!
“In a nutshell, that is me,
and I look forward to
meeting everyone in due
course,” she added.
New Staff Profile 3… Peter Ferguson
Peter Ferguson recently
commenced employment
at the SRH as the
Indigenous Rural Health
Strategic Development
and Research Lecturer.
Peter is a Yorta Yorta man
and a recognized
Traditional Owner whose
major ancestral line goes
back 1000’s of generations
within Yorta Yorta country.
“My father is a descendant
of the Wiradjuri which is a
neighboring group to the
North of Yorta Yorta and
with whom we share a
common boundary.” Peter
is very proud of his
heritage and ancestry.
“An interesting sidelight is
that if you type in William
Cooper – Aboriginal
activist into Google (my
maternal – Yorta Yorta –
Great Grandfather) it will
come up with several
thousand responses to the
work that he achieved
during his lifetime. He is a
hero to me, my family and
to Yorta Yorta”, he said.
“My fraternal Grandfather
is William Ferguson
(Wiradjuri) and if you type
his name into Google it
will also come up with
several thousand sites
relating to the advocacy
that he did on behalf of
Koori people in the early
to mid 20 th Century. He
was the first Aboriginal
person to run for
Parliament”, Peter added.
These two legendary men
also worked together on
various issues and the
work they did led to many
of the organisations and
rights that Aboriginal
Australia enjoy today.
Peter went to Mooroopna
Primary and Shepparton
High Schools before
returning to study as a
mature age student in
1987 and completing a BA
(Ed) in 1992 through
Deakin University.
He is currently completing
an MBM through Ballarat
University and only has to
complete his minor
dissertation which is about
‘Informed Consent’.
“I am active locally having
begun as a Koori
Educator at South Tech
in 1980 and have an
extensive network of
contacts locally and
across the State – the
local part was easy
because I’m related to
everyone!” he said.
Peter has served on
many organisations over
the years and is the
current Vice Chair of
Yorta Yorta Nations
Aboriginal Corporation
which is the Traditional
Owner organisation.
He has also been heavily
involved in the last 5
years in the creation of
the Barmah National Park
which is something he is
very proud of.
“I am also very interested
in getting Koori
perspectives into the
SRH activities, research
and the curriculum but I
have firm views on how
that engagement should
take place – so please
come and have a
conversation” he said.
Peter Ferguson
New Staff Profile 4… Fran Smullen
Fran first commenced work at
the university in October last
year. Initially this work
entailed delivering the
quarterly Cultural Safety
workshops and Aboriginal
Health Lecture. This work
was undertaken in
partnership with Cynthia
Scott, Krystal Atkinson and
Andrew McKnight, Aboriginal
Liaison Officers at Goulburn
Valley Health.
Earlier this year Fran
commenced work in her new
role as Lecturer Rural
Health Community Liaison in
the Koori Unit working
together with Karyn
Ferguson and Peter
Ferguson.
Continued next page...

Fran Smullen
Page 4
New Staff Profile 4… Fran Smullen
Fran is a social worker with
over 20 years experience that
has included extensive and
diverse experience in rural
social work and counselling
practice across a number of
fields including trauma, loss
and grief, sexual assault and
family violence, drug and
alcohol, depression and
anxiety. This work has been
undertaken in mainstream
and Aboriginal community
settings.
She has also been involved
in a number of community
development projects. Most
recently as the Localities
Embracing and Accepting
Diversity (LEAD), Strategic
Planner, a Vic Health Prodiversity
and antidiscriminatory
behaviour
project.
Having lived in the
Shepparton area all her life
she has a comprehensive
knowledge of Shepparton
and surrounding areas. This
includes knowledge of the
background of the rich
diversity of the area.
In her Masters thesis she
sought to identify practical
ways in which mainstream
health/welfare organisations
in Shepparton could increase
their relevance to Aboriginal,
migrants, refugees and
newly arrived community
members.
Community activities that
she has been involved in
outside work has included
membership in a number of
community groups:
Shepparton & District
Reconciliation Group, as cochair
for a number of years;
Shepparton Region Rural
Australians for Refugees
Group, inaugural chair;
Goulburn Valley Social
Workers Group; Social
Justice Sub-committee;
Greater City of Shepparton
Public Health Plan; Sense
of belonging Subcommittee;
Goulburn Valley
Affordable Housing Group,
and the International
Women’s Day Committee.
New Staff Profile 5: Michelle Chart
Michelle Chart
Michelle joined the School of
Rural Health in March in the
role of UDRH Administration
Officer and will be providing
support to Associate
Professor David Pierce, the
Director of the University
Department of Rural Health.
Immediately prior to this
appointment Michelle was
working as the Personal
Assistant to the Head of the
Economics Department
based in Parkville. However
having recently relocated to
Ballarat the daily commute
was proving difficult.
Before joining The University
of Melbourne, Michelle was
employed by Justice Health,
a New South Wales Area
Health Service. This role
primarily involved analysing
Mental Health Review
Tribunal recommendations in
relation to the care, treatment
and detention of Forensic
Mental Health Patients and
making recommendations to
the New South Wales
Minister for Health.
Michelle has also worked in
the Australian Graduate
School of Management at
The University of New
South Wales.
“Moving to Ballarat has
been great and I am really
happy to be working for the
School of Rural Health. It is
good to be working so close
to home and in an area as
lovely as Ballarat,” she said
Casual Staff member: Aimee Howarth
Aimee Howarth
Aimee Howarth has been
part of the School of Rural
Health Team for 3 years.
Aimee has assisted the
medical students as a
volunteer simulated patient
on a regular basis and now
over the past 3 months has
been a temporary worker for
administration and reception.
“I am so lucky to have been
given this opportunity here at
Rural Health,” she said.
Aimee is off to university in
March to further her studies in
a double degree health
sciences/occupational
therapy at La Trobe
Bundoora.
“The experiences and
opportunities have given me
insight into the health field
and also furthered my
knowledge about the health
system and its workings.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed
every minute of working with
such friendly, efficient and
professional colleagues, it
has really been amazing
getting to know you all,” she
said.
Aimee hopes to return to
School Of Rural Health
during holiday breaks as
she would be delighted to
be back on deck helping out
in any possible way.
” My experience here has
been wonderful and I have
learnt so much.”

Volume 7, Issue 1
RCS News
The University of Melbourne’s School of Rural Health
Page 5
Open Days
The RCS will welcome perspective medical students to visit our sites and get a taste
for the RCS experience prior to selecting their preferred clinical school on the
following dates:
Bendigo/Ballarat—Saturday 13 th March
Shepparton/Wangaratta—Saturday 20 th March
We would like to thank all staff involved in helping out and coordinating the Open
Days – we greatly appreciate your willingness to assist with these events during
your weekend.
Volunteer Morning Tea at Shepparton
On Tuesday 23 rd February the RCS in Shepparton hosted an annual morning tea to
thank all of our volunteers for helping out as “volunteer patients” for both student
examinations and teaching sessions throughout 2009. The morning tea was the
biggest volunteer morning tea to date and was well received by our current
volunteers and the local media. If you know someone who would like to volunteer at
any of our sites please provide contact details to the RCS administrator at your site.
RCS Academic team
win this years
Program
Development Award
for their submission
of ‘Setting Students
Up to Succeed: A
Multi-faceted
Clinical Education
Program in a
Teacher Shortage
Environment’
Melbourne Medical School – Program Development Award
Prof. DeWitt has just received official notification from Melbourne Medical School
that the RCS Academic team have won this years Program Development Award for
their submission of ‘Setting Students Up to Succeed: A Multi-faceted Clinical
Education Program in a Teacher Shortage Environment’. The application was based
on the development of the following teaching and learning initiatives: Orientation
Program, Clinical Education Facilitators, Training for Clinical Teachers, Student
Mentoring Program, Extended Problem-Based Learning Simulations, Bedside
Evidence-Based Medicine Activities and “Project Village” (community volunteers
who assist with examinations and teaching). A well deserved congratulations goes
to Prof. Dawn DeWitt, A/Prof. Lisanne Burkholder, Dr Jennifer Critchley, Prof. Bill
Adam, A/Prof. Graeme Jones and Ms Jennifer Keast.
We wish you well and have our fingers crossed for your application for the University
Norman Curry Award.
HEALTHY HUMOUR:
“ Mr Brown”, said the Medical Registrar, “ I am glad to say
that we have completed our investigations regarding your
illness. However, I am unable to give you a diagnosis as
such”.
“All your internal organs are diseased to such an extent that all my
colleagues are looking forward to your post-mortem .”
Above: Staff and Volunteers
enjoy themselves at the annual
Volunteer morning tea
~ Dr Raja Korale (The World’s Best Doctor Jokes,1984)

Page 6
CERSH - Sexy Bugs Seminar
Above: Some attendees from the
CERSH Seminar on the 4th
March—
’Sexy Bugs…Too Popular in 2010’
The Centre for Excellence in
Rural Sexual Health ran a
seminar on 4 th March entitled
’Sexy Bugs…Too Popular in
2010’. Nurses and other
health professionals from
across the region were
invited to attend the day here
at the School of Rural Health.
Over 40 people were in
attendance to hear experts
from the Melbourne Sexual
Health Centre, the Burnet
Institute, Country Awareness
Network (CAN) as well as
People Living with HIV/AIDS
and our own Associate
Professor Jane Tomnay and
Senior Project Coordinator
Beth Hatch from CERSH.
Topics covered were –
∗
∗
∗
∗
Epidemiology of STIs
Managing STIs in
your Practice
Sexual Health and the
Young Person
Working with Men who
∗
∗
have Sex with Men
Contact Tracing and
Living with HIV/AIDS.
The day was an
overwhelming success for
attendees and speakers.
Some comments made –
∗
∗
∗
∗
‘Very useful – I’ll be
taking a lot of this
information to use in
my workplace’;
‘STI update great,
reinforces
knowledge’;
Seminar reminds me
of how much can be
done to empower/
educate people to
control their (own)
lives and reduce
risks’;
very valuable day…
it’s great to have
updated information’.
Other seminars to watch out
for from CERSH in 2010
are:
∗
∗
∗
‘Reproductive and
Pregnancy Choices’
in June,
‘Young People and
Sexual Health’ in
August and
Sexual Health
overview and Legal
Considerations’ in
October.
All are welcome. For any
queries please contact
Jenni on 0358234549 or
goodwinj@unimelb.edu.au
Please remember that SRH
staff are welcome to attend
any of our seminars.
~Jenni Goodwin
Shepparton Medical Centre...
The Shepparton
Medical Centre is
now open .
Current GPs are:
Dr Solange Adad,
and Dr Helen
Malcolm
The Shepparton Medical
Centre opened on
Wednesday 27 January
2010.
Dr Solange Adad along with
nurses Michelle and Leonie
constitute the clinical team
and are ably supported by
the administration team of
Janice and Andrea.
At the time of writing this
article, the practice has over
300 patients registered, quite
an achievement as we have
been open for only 6 weeks.
Recruitment of additional
practitioners is currently the
focus of practice
development.
We have met with several
interested GPs and one has
verbally accepted the
position of Medical Director
and GP at the centre, he will
begin in July 2010.
Two doctors from the UK will
be visiting us in late March
with a view to joining us later
in 2010.
We are also in negotiations
with other Victorian
based and UK doctors.
Amanda Chandler began on
March 3 as the Practice
Manager. Amanda, an RN
by trade, has previously
worked at Goulburn Valley
Health as well as other
health facilities in NSW and
Qld.
Amanda has a strong
management focus and has
been responsible for the
establishment of several
health related clinics in the
recent past.
We are currently in
discussions with a variety of
clinicians to provide some
consulting services from the
practice, including an
ultrasound echo service.
~ David Bailey
Quote of the Day:
New Ideas, like seedlings, must be well watered if they are to survive.
~ P.K. Shaw

Volume 7, Issue 1
The University of Melbourne’s School of Rural Health
Page 7
Research Ethics News...
Our rural health Human
Ethics Advisory Group
(HEAG ) Chairperson and
Bioethicist Dr Andrew
Crowden from the Ballarat
campus has recently
accepted an invitation from
the Minister for Health Daniel
Andrews to undertake a role
as the Deputy Chair of the
Victorian Consultative
Council for Human Research
Ethics (CCHRE).
Andrew continues to have an
active involvement in
research ethics. He is an
active participant on two
National Health and Medical
Research Council (NHMRC)
multisite ethics review
subcommittees (the ATSI
Research Sub-Committee
and the Research Monitoring
Sub-Committee) and has
been the Chairperson of
Austin Health Human
Research Ethics Committee
(HREC) since 2004.
For more information on the
CCHRE see
http://www.health.vic.gov.a
u/cchre/
If you are a researcher or
have an interest in human
research ethics you are
warmly invited attend the
seminar on Rural Health
and Human Research
Ethics at the Shepparton
campus on April 21.
HEAG Chairperson &
Bioethicist Dr
Andrew Crowden
accepts invitation to
undertake role as the
Deputy Chair of the
Victorian
Consultative Council
for Human Research
Ethics (CCHRE).
Japanese Visitors...
On the 8th February 2010,
Shimane residents Iwakiri
Yuka & Uraki Ryo, and
students Okada Asa
& Kataoka Nozomi arrived
at the School of Rural Health
for a two- week stay.
During their time with us they
attended student PBL’s and
teaching sessions.
They also were invited to
attend clinics with Dawn
(both at GV Health and
Rumbalara), Lisanne and
Helen, and they also they
spent time with Dr Solange
Adad at the Shepparton
Medical Centre.
The purpose of their visit
was to build on our ongoing
relationships and further
enhance the student
exchange program between
the Shimane University in
Japan and the School of
Rural Health, Rural Clinical
School.
RCS students Viola Luk
and Magda Wojtasiak
visited the Shimane
University in December
2009 on their exchange
visit.
Our Japanese visitors were
also invited to attend our
Multicultural Dinner that
was held on Tuesday 16th
February.
Did You Know:
That Cleopatra tested the efficacy of her poisons
by giving them to slaves.
Shimane residents Iwakiri Yuka &
Uraki Ryo, and students Okada Asa
& Kataoka Nozomi with one of our
students Viola Luk.
Storm Damage...
On the weekend of the 6-7th
March, Shepparton was hit
by a severe storm that left
quite a trail of destruction in
its path.
Heavy rain, hail stones and
winds blowing at 125km per
hour hit Shepparton at
around 4pm on Sunday.
The storm uprooted tree,
caused flash flooding with
streets becoming rivers,
roofs were blown off some
houses, ceilings came down,
fences knocked down,
windows broken, and in
some cases severe water
damage was caused
throughout in peoples homes.
In some areas the traffic
lights failed and boom gates
at the train crossings also
broke.
The SES apparently received
more than 7000 calls for help
from throughout the state of
Victoria, with 500 of them
reportedly being from the
Goulburn Valley .
The School of Rural Health’s
Shepparton Campus & the
Shepparton Medical Centre
also received some damage.
School Manager Georgia
Von Guttner contacted staff
on Sunday night to tell us
not to come in to work on
the Monday due to the
damage caused.
Cleanup took quite a while
with the SES still attending
to the calls 4 days later.
It was reportedly the worst
storm ever seen in the
Goulburn Valley.
~ Lucia Rossi
Above: just some of the damage
caused a the Shepparton Campus

Page 8
Announcements...
BABY NEWS:
Congratulations to our very own Nicole Van Riet and husband Greg on the birth of their
first child, a beautiful and precious baby girl named Annika Grace (pictured left) , born at
12.01pm on 22nd January 2010 weighing 8lb, 3oz..
Annika Grace Van Riet
Congratulations also to our ex– employee , Amy Moloney who with hubby Richard are
reported to be expecting their third child in early October.
A Big Thumbs Up...
If you know of anyone who deserves a big thumbs up, let Lucia
know so that we can make them suitably embarrassed! Ph: 5823
4503, or send an email to luciar@unimelb.edu.au
Dr Les Bolitho (Photo by Cheryl
Browne, Courtesy of The Chronicle
27/01/10 p 4)
Dr Raf Ratinum (Photo by Julie
Mercer, Courtesy of The Shepp
News)
Cameron Rahles-Rahbula Photo by
AAP Image/Sport the Library, jeff
Crow, Courtesy of The Shepp News)
√
√
√
√
√
√
The Academic Centre for Rural Health, Melbourne Medical School,
congratulates Dr Les Bolitho (pictured left) for his Australia Day award of
Member of the Order of Australia. The award is for service to medicine as a
clinician and educator and through the development of rural and regional health
services in north east Victoria. Dr Bolitho has been a key supporter of the Rural
Clinical School and teaches clinical medicine at the University’s Wangaratta
Campus.
Congratulations to ex-RCS student Dr Seikisi Mosenki who has joined the
Tatura Medical Centre as an employee. All the very Best, Six.
Congratulations also to Dr Clare Gordon, an ex-RCS student from our very first
cohort, who discovered why pregnant women are more susceptible to
contracting the swine flu. Clare is working as a trainee infectious disease
specialist in the intensive care unit at the Austin Hospital. An article was
published in the Clinical Infectious Diseases journal.
Congratulations to the RCS Academic team who through shear hard work have
not only won the Program Development Award for their submission of ‘Setting
Students Up to Succeed: A Multi-faceted Clinical Education Program in a
Teacher Shortage Environment’, but they have also jointly won the Norman
Curry Award 2010 for the Australian Learning & Teaching Council Citations for
Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning & the Awards for Programs that
Enhance Learning. We would like to particularly recognise the following
professional staff Jo Brown, Lorraine Olsson and Linda Foottit for their
assistance in submitting the application.
Congratulations to ex– RCS student Raf Ratinam (pictured left) who was
among 21 new interns who were set for a hands on experience as they began
their intern placement at GV Health on January 11th 2010.
Congratulations to Shepparton Physiotherapist and a previous RCS physio
student Cameron Rahles– Rahbula who was selected to carry the flag at the
Winter Paralympics closing ceremony on Monday 22nd March. Cameron, 26,
had earlier won two bronze medals on the ski slopes of Whistler. Cameron
spent four weeks on his Rural rotation at the SRH and worked closely with Liz
Williams.

Volume 7, Issue 1
The University of Melbourne’s School of Rural Health
Page 9
Social Club News...
The 2010 Social Club Members are: Shirley Bekirofski, Lucia Rossi , Amanda, Di
Bella, Linda Foottit, Ian Coldwell, Grant Pollerd, Scott Middleton, and Christie
McFadden.
∗
∗
∗
President: Grant Pollerd
Secretary: Lucia Rossi
Treasurer: Shirley Bekirofski
This year’s events include:
2 x Multicultural Dinners 16 th Feb 2010 & 2 nd week in August
(date tbc)
St Patrick’s Day BBQ Wed. 17 th March 2010
Easter Raffle & Morning Tea Wed. 31 st March 2010
Mother’s Day Raffle & Morning Tea Fri. 7 th May 2010
Father’s Day Raffle & Morning Tea Fri 3 rd Sept 2010
Footy Grand Final Fever BBQ Fri 24 th Sept 2010
Melbourne Cup BBQ Tues 2 nd Nov 2010
Christmas Break-up
TBA
NB: All monies raised from the above events will go to the Social Club, so that we
can continue to put on more events. Usually any money made at one event will
help pay for the next, etc.
Some charities we are hoping to raise funds for include:
Shrove Tuesday 2011
Jeans for Genes 2010
Biggest Morning Tea 2010
Beyond Blue 2010
Red Nose Day 2010
Shave for a Cure 2011
Blue Stocking Day 2010
NB: All monies raised from the charity events will go to the respective charity.
Fish Naming Competition...
Peter Keppel has two fishy friends to keep him company in his office.
However, these two little gold fish (pictured right) have no name.
Please help us name his gold fish.
The Best names for each fish will be announced in the next newsletter, along with
the name (s) of the winner (s).
Prize: Mystery prize. Please email your names to luciar@unimelb.edu.au

Page 10
Upcoming Events...
Centre for Excellence in Rural Sexual Health—Events:
∗ 17th June— “Reproductive & Pregnancy Choices”
∗ 23rd August— “Young People & Sexual Health”
∗ 14th October— “Sexual Health Overview & Legal
Considerations”
For enquiries please contact Jenni Goodwin
Email: goodwinj@unimelb.edu.au
Ph. 03 5823 4549 Fax. 03 5823 4555
The PCHRED dates to the end of June are as follows:
∗ Wednesday 21 st April 2010 10.00am – 12.30pm
Human research ethics - presented by Dr Andrew Crowden
∗ Tuesday 4 th May 2010 10.00am – 12.30pm
Program Evaluation - presented by Dr Denis Muller
∗ Wednesday 19 th May 2010 10.00am – 12.30pm
Introduction to statistics & quantitative analysis - presented
by A/Prof Julie Pallant
∗ Wednesday 19 th May 2010 1.00pm - 3.30pm
Qualitative analysis – presenter TBA
∗ Tuesday 15 th June 2010 10.00am – 12.30pm
Presenting your research – conference abstracts, paper &
poster presentations - presented by A/Prof Julie Pallant
All staff and students are welcome to attend but should RSVP
to Anne Marmo
Research & Graduate Studies Officer
Email: amarmo@unimelb.edu.au
Ph: 03 5823 4553 Fax: 03 5823 4555
Multicultural Dinner
A very successful multicultural dinner was held at the School of Rural Health
on Tuesday 16th February. It was attended by students and staff and was
very well received. Another is scheduled for a date to be advised in August.
School of Rural Health
Ballarat Office
University of Melbourne
School of Rural Health
”Dunvegan”
806 Mair Street
BALLARAT VIC 3353
Phone: 03 5332 3190
Fax: 03 5332 4519
Email: srh-info@unimelb.edu.au
Shepparton Office
University of Melbourne
School of Rural Health
49 Graham Street
PO Box 6500
SHEPPARTON VIC 3632
Ph: 03 5823 4500
Fax: 03 5823 4555
Email: srh-info@unimelb.edu.au
Wangaratta Office
University of Melbourne
School of Rural Health
C/- Northeast Health
Green Street
PO Box 386
WANGARATTA Vic 3676
Phone: 03 5722 0498
Fax: 03 5721 9184
Email: srh-info@unimelb.edu.au
Web Address:
http://www.ruralhealth.unimelb.
edu.au/