RDAQ 2022 awards recognise the best rural doctors

The gala event on Saturday at Gladstone concluded the three-day conference, which saw Dr Natasha Coventry awarded as Legend of the Bush.

Mount Isa's Sabine Orda was named Honorary Associate Member, awarded the David Horn Memorial Medal, while Dr Tom Currie from Longreach and Dr Erica West from Mount Isa received the joint Denis Lennox Medal for Rural Registrar of the Year.

RDAQ Meritorious Service Awards were presented to Dr Umayal Lakshman of Mount Isa and Dr Clare Jukka of Atherton, Cathy Halliday of Stanthorpe was named Backbone of the Bush, and the RDAQ Academic Award was presented to Melanie Hobi.

On accepting the award, Dr Coventry was quick to thank others in the room for inspiring and supporting her throughout her career.

"I really do feel very humbled to accept this award," Dr Coventry said.

"It is such a privilege to work in a rural community, that's where we get our energy from - the people who we look after. And I do hope that, in my own head, I will still live up to this in 20 years from now when I'm feeling ready to be a legend."

Dr Coventry studied at the University of Queensland, electing to go to Cooktown throughout her undergraduate training, an experience which would critically influence her future career decisions and ultimately lead her to return to Cooktown permanently as a rural generalist - anaesthetist in 2007.

She continues to practice procedural anaesthetics and is involved in building up Cooktown as an educational 'hub' for rural generalist registrars and medical students.

Dr Coventry led the medical team to be the second site in Australia to successfully restore birthing services after closure.

RDAQ president Dr Matt Masel said Dr Coventry was known within the rural doctor family for her persistence, passion and dedication.

"Tash is a shining example of how experience in rural medicine early on, can not only shape a career but generate a passion and affinity for being a doctor living and working in the bush," Dr Masel said.

"She has definitely earned legend status and her humble acceptance speech is just another example as to why she is held in such high regard within the rural doctor community," he said.

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