Memorial Evening again a success
Matthew Campbell's family, Noel Campbell (third from left) and Christine Campbell (third from right) are pictured with (from left) Alba Anderson, Kyle Vander Kuyp, John May, Liz Wearne and Sam Alexander
Every year Monash University’s rural health club, WILDFIRE, holds a lecture dedicated to Indigenous health.
The first organised in 1994 by Matthew Campbell, then a second year Monash medical student and was attended by hundreds of medical and allied health students from Monash and other universities.
Tragically, just after the event, Matthew was killed in a car accident. Each year, WILDFIRE holds the lecture in memory of Matthew and his passion for Indigenous health.
The seminar provides medical and allied health students at Monash University with an opportunity to hear about possible solutions to difficulties faced by Indigenous Australians that affect their mental and physical wellbeing.
This year’s 19th Annual Matthew Campbell Memorial Evening was opened by Professor Geoff Solarsh, Director of the NVRMEN program. Guests participated in a Welcome to Country given by Wurundjeri Elder Uncle Bill Nicholson followed by a traditional smoking ceremony before enjoying the One Fire Tribal Dancers and Didgeridoo.
Speakers this year included:
- Sam Alexander, a Monash graduate entry student who intermitted his studies in 2012 to ride more than 5000 km on horseback from Victoria to far north Queensland to raise funds for the Royal Flying Doctor Service. Read about Sam’s adventures on his website.
- Dr Elizabeth Wearne, a Monash graduate who is now a GP in East Gippsland.
- Alba Anderson, a Monash John Flynn Scholar undertaking her John Flynn Placement Program in the Northern Territory and working in remote Indigenous communities.
- Kyle Vander Kuyp, an Indigenous Australian and Olympic athlete who competed in the 1996 and 2000 games and broke the 110 metre hurdles Australian record in the 1995 World Championships. Kyle has since been involved with AIME Indigenous mentoring. Kyle is from the Worimi and Yuin tribe of North and South Coast NSW.
John May, Year 3 Monash student and active WILDFIRE member did a great job as MC on the night and was congratulated on his great effort in organising the event.
It was great to see the Campbell family enjoying this annual event which commemorates the work of their son Matthew and what he believed in most – to extend other students’ knowledge and experiences with Aboriginal health.
By Laura Major
Manager, Rural Education Program