2010 Paulatim Magazine - RAAMC Association

Oakey Medical Centre
The Oakey Medical Centre (OMC) is located within the Army Aviation
Training Centre (AAVNTC). OMC is a part of Darling Downs Medical
Services (DDMS) which in turn also looks after the Cabarlah Medical
Centre (CMC), Dental Section and a small Psychology Section at AAVNTC.
OMC is a quirky little medical centre that is commanded by MAJ Susan
Steel who is also a great training resource for the medics and nurses as
well as being a very experienced senior Aviation Medical Officer
(SAVMO). Earlier in the year MAJ Steel deployed on USS Mercy to
Vietnam where she provided humanitarian aid to the local population.
Our other staff include:
• CAPT John (Kangaroo) Skipp an experienced nursing officer.
• LT Craig Smith, who in another life was a medic.
• WO2 Greg Ralph as our CSM who is the back bone of OMC.
• SGT Warren Douglas is the medical SGT and heading off to ALTC.
• CPL Alison Rolles as the dental supervisor and Ops Cpl position.
CPL Rolles is off to 1 CSSB at the end of the year.
• CPL Luke Myers, Section commander of the Equipment and
Resources Section (ERS) includes; PTE Richard Gurdler, PTE Nicola
Emsley and PTE Sean McKay.
• CPL Kerrin Lyon, Med boards CPL and helped by PTE Richard
Bateman.
• CPL Daniel Simpson, Out Patients Department (OPD) CPL and he
looks after PTE Sean Linley, PTE Luke Ardill, PTE Caleb Shields and
PTE Toniel Hartley.
• CMC is the other half of DDMS which provides health care to Borneo
Barracks. Unfortunately their fearless leader CAPT Natalie Evans is
being posted to a Long Term Schooling (LTS) position
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CPL Maree Leonard is the senior medical technician and heads
off to 3 CSSB.
LCPL Kat Cole has been the glue that holds all the little pieces
of CMC together. As she calls it, “Kats house of fun.”
We have also covered a wide range of random activities such as Ground
Crewmen Aircraft Support Initial Employment Training at Wide Bay
Training Area (WBTA), Bicycle ride from Cabarlah in Queensland to
Canberra, adventure training at Jindabyne and a variety of ROCL relief
positions for the MEAO.
As the end of the year fast approaches we lose some of our assets to
other units such as PTE Wayne Allen who is off to 7 RAR, PTE Nicola
Emsley who is heading up to Townsville to work at 5 Aviation Regt RAP
and PTE Sean Mckay who is heading to a new contingency of 1 CSSB in
South Australia.
CSM shows LT Smith how to iron.
By: CPL Simpson
PAULATIM
DDMS is a good posting with lots to offer people in the medical stream.
CAPT Kate Munro is our ARA Psychologist and our GRES Psych Examiner
is WO2 Sue McManus. CPL Penny Looker is the ARA Psych Examiner
who is currently on maternity leave. As a Medical Technician you are a
priority for Rotary Wing Air Medical Evacuation Course. You gain a good
education and experience around helicopters and work closely with
the Incidence Response Regiment (IRR) and the Military Police.
Close exposure to a lot senior medical officers allows pertinent training.
The Oakey Dental Section also caters for Cabarlah as well as Oakey.
Our Army Reservist dentist, MAJ Tate works here as a civilian and an
Army Reservist. CPL Rolles (as well as working in the Operations Cell,)
also wears the hat of our Senior Dental Assistant. Under her are PTE
Yasmin Hampton and PTE Cherise Kite.
OMC Group shot (only part of the crew).
Treatment in Med One.
PA U L AT I M – M A GAZINE O F T HE R OYA L A U S T R A L I A N A R M Y M E DICAL C O R P S – 2 0 1 0 7 3