Matthew Campbell Memorial Evening again a success
The 18th Annual Matthew Campbell Memorial Evening (MCME) was held at Monash University Clayton Campus during April, with this year’s theme “Indigenous Health in the 21st Century: New challenges and new successes.”
Guests participated in an Aboriginal traditional smoking ceremony performed outside the Lecture Theatre by Bill Nicholson, a Wurundjeri Elder and educator. Bill also delivered the Welcome to Country on the night.
The evening is held annually in memory of Matthew Campbell, a medical student deeply interested in Indigenous health issues who was one of the prime movers in organising the first indigenous health forum for students. Matthew tragically died in a car accident after the first event and it now continues in his memory.
John Clark and Elyssia Bourke, co-chairs of the WILDFIRE Council, opened this year’s evening and Matt Dentry, WILDFIRE’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Advocate performed superbly as MC on the night.
Professor Judi Walker delivered a pre-recorded welcome address where she talked about the history of the MCME and Matthew’s dedication to raising awareness of Indigenous health issues. She also outlined the events which are planned for 2012 as part of the School of Rural Health’s 20th Anniversary celebrations.
Associate Professor Daryl Pedler, who is leaving the School of Rural Health to take up a professorial position with Deakin University in Warrnambool, delivered a thought provoking presentation reflecting on his time as a general practitioner, director of emergency medicine and medical education academic with Monash.
Other guest speakers this year included:
- Mr AJ Williams, Manager/Trainer of Girraway Ganyi Consultancy, an Aboriginal owned and operated consultancy service that provides cultural awareness to health services, hospitals and GP networks as well as providing mental health first aid training to community agencies, Aboriginal communities and anyone interested in becoming more aware of mental health literacy.
- Ms Judy Scolari-Gibson, Tobacco Treatment Specialist. Judy works with Aboriginal Controlled Community Health Services (ACCHS) and is committed to improving inequalities in Aboriginal populations, particularly in the area of nicotine addiction and smoking cessation across Western NSW.
- Dr Kezia Mansfield, Monash MBBS graduate (2011) who is now an intern at Royal Melbourne Hospital. Kezia has had a variety of experiences in Indigenous health while undertaking the Monash MBBS through placements at Iga Warta, Alice Springs and Darwin Hospital, as well as placements in India. As part of her Darwin placement with the Infectious Diseases Unit, Kezia spent a week in a community playing an active role in screening for acute post-strep glomerulonephritis. The results of her work will be presented in September at a national public health conference for the John Snow Scholarship Award.
- Uncle Jack Charles, Actor, musician, potter and gifted performer. A member of the Stolen Generation, Jack has spent his life – in between acting gigs – caught in the cycle of addiction, crime and doing time cycle. Jack gave a truly inspirational presentation. No longer caught in the cycle, he has lived to tell an extraordinary tale. His constant and unswerving optimism, generosity of spirit and his humanity shone through.
It was pleasing to see around 200 attendees on the night, including students and staff from both the School of Rural Health and the faculty enjoy themselves and be inspired by all of the wonderful speakers on the night. The School of Rural Health and WILDFIRE look forward to welcoming you all to the 19th Annual MCME in 2013.
– Laura Major, Manager, Rural Education Programs