Great Southern doctors honoured in WA Rural Health Long Service Awards for decades of service to region

The annual WA Rural Health Long Service Awards celebrated rural doctors who had worked as general practitioners for more than 20 years in rural WA, including three Great Southern doctors. Held at the University Club of WA in Crawley on February 7, and jointly hosted by Rural Health West and the WA Country Health Service, the awards honoured milestones of 20, 30, and 40 years of service in rural medicine. This year, five doctors reached 40 years of service, and six doctors were acknowledged for 30 years of service, including Denmark GP Dr Sharon Jackson and Wheatbelt practitioner Dr Olga Ward. Dr Jackson graduated from the University of Melbourne in 1988 and travelled and worked across Australia and New Zealand for a decade before moving to Denmark in 1998. A GP at Denmark Medical Centre, Dr Jackson specialises in holistic care, women’s, children’s and adolescent health and chronic disease management. Dr Jackson said her passion for improving rural health outcomes was still a central part of her work after 30 years. Former Narrogin GP Dr Olga Ward was also recognised for three decades of service, having served as a country doctor for towns across the Wheatbelt. Dr Ward said she was still passionate about rural communities and valued the teamwork and spirit that keep small rural towns going through hardships. Rural Health West chief executive officer Tim Shackleton thanked the award recipients for their continued dedication to their communities. ”These doctors have not only cared for generations of families in rural WA but have also been a constant source of stability and trust in their communities,” he said. ”Their commitment to providing high-quality healthcare, often in challenging circumstances, is nothing short of extraordinary.” WA Country Health Service chief executive Jeff Moffet agreed, commending the award recipients for the hard work they take on. ”Providing healthcare across more than 2.55 million square kilometres is no small feat, but these doctors have consistently stepped up to support those living in some of our most rural and remote areas,” he said. “On behalf of the WA Country Health Service, I extend our deepest thanks for their incredible dedication, and for all that they continue to do to support regional and remote WA.” An additional 24 practitioners celebrated their 20-year milestone, including Albany GP Dr David Ward.