Master Chef 2013 - Cathy Ward (L) and Lisa Lavey (R)

The annual Bendigo Master Chef and Junior Master Chef challenge was a resounding success. Funds raised for the Support, Prevention and Research into breast and gynaecological cancers totalled approximately $540. This was made up of on-line donations, entry fees, raffles and the sale of plants.

You can make a tax-deductible donation any time – online!

Prizes were donated by Purtill’s Nursery of Huntly, Elegant Concepts, Axedale Reef Winery, The Good Loaf, Pat & Leonie Francis, Marilyn Hards, Cathy Ward, and Sandra Paschkow.

Old hands and budding chefs created superb dishes to tantalize the tastebuds of the foodies and freeloaders who sipped, sucked, slurped and scoffed the tempting array of dishes on offer. After carefully considering their vote, which may have included going back for seconds, winners were announced.

Master Chef 2013 is:

Junior Master Chef 2013 is:

Congratulations to the winners, organiser Lisa Lavey and all participants and taste testers.

Tina Whitney

Your name and Position
Tina Whitney, Gippsland Regional Clinical School Receptionist

Describe your job/ role.
My job is to meet and greet people direct them to the appropriate people, I answer the phones, manage teaching space and accommodation bookings. I provide administrative support to all GRCS staff members.

Why is it important?
I think it is important to provide a positive and friendly service to the public, as well staff members.

What is the best aspect of your work with the school of rural health?
To have the privilege of working with the most amazing people, including the students.

When not at work, what do you enjoy doing?
Spending time with family and friends and gardening.

What was your most recent holiday destination and why did you choose it?
My last holiday was to Queensland 12 months ago; it was a girls’ week. I chose it for the theme parks, as they are always fun and relaxing.

If you were Emperor for a day, what is one thing you would implement?
I would make every single person do one special deed for another without wanting anything in return.

Surprise us. What is something about you that most of your peers wouldn’t know?
I am rather a shy person.

Photo by Lee Cheney

Among the organised chaos of building the New Bendigo Hospital, these delightful birds were entertaining School of Rural Health staff at the Bendigo office last week.

Their happy squawking while foraging for nectar in a bottle brush outside the Bendigo offices, helped to drown out the constant low rumbling of the hundreds of trucks removing excavated soil and rubble from the New Hospital building site.

Dinner to celebrate Laura Major's 25 years with Monash

On 8 October, 25 people gathered to celebrate a quarter of a century that Laura Major has been with Monash University.  Laura began working at Monash in 1988 and during that time worked in 5 areas, currently settled in the School of Rural Health as Rural Education Manager in Clayton.

It was a lovely evening, with Head of School, Professor Judi Walker, acknowledging Laura’s contributions and good company sharing food and raising the glass in celebration.

Congratulations, Laura!

Kristy Allen

Your name and position

Kristy Allen, Simulation Technician/ Sessional Teacher

Describe your job/role

I began at Monash 16 months ago in a funded position by HWA for the delivery of Simulated Learning to the  Lower Murray Region. I coordinate the bookings for the skills lab.  I am responsible for controlling the high fidelity manikins during simulation scenarios while our lecturer teaches within the session. I am also a current practicing registered nurse and occasionally teach procedural skills to our medical students.

Why is it important?

My role is important for the delivery of simulated learning to the students of Monash University and to keep Howard Cook company.

What is the best aspect of your work with the School of Rural Health?

The best aspect of my job would be the opportunity I have to work and learn so closely with the university’s lecturer.

When you are not at work, what do you enjoy doing?

When I’m not at work I love being a wife and mum.

What was your most recent holiday destination and why did you choose it?

Sydney – for the shopping!

If you were Emperor for a day, what is one thing you would implement?

I would give us each a set of wings to spread, fly, feel free and have faith.

Surprise us! What is something about you that most of your peers would not know?

I was a competition line dancer (bootscooter)

Pictured is Sue Barker, Anske Robinson and Kate Templeman, another of Anske’s PhD students from NSW.

Congratulations to Dr Anske Robinson of MUDRIH on her recent nomination for the Monash Postgraduate Supervisor of the Year award. Anske was nominated by one of her PhD students, Sue Barker, who firmly believes that Anske is well deserved of the award. One of the comments that Sue made on the nomination form was that ‘Anske is exceptional and does things to ensure that I achieve my goals that are above and beyond the call of duty’.

Anske is one of six supervisors nominated for the award and we would like to wish her all the best. The winner will be announced at the award ceremony to be held in Clayton Wednesday 13^th November.

Dr Hanan Khalil, the Chronic Disease Management director with the Evidence Transfer Award

At the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) 2013 International Convention in October, special recognition awards and certificates of recognition were presented to four international centres/nodes, including the Chronic Disease Management Node. Dr Hanan Khalil, Director of the Chronic Disease Management Node (CDM), received the Evidence Transfer Award for the significant development and maintenance of the CDM.

The Joanna Briggs Institute is an international organisation, operating more than 50 collaborating centres and groups around the world. JBI is a global collaboration of health scientists and clinicians that operate as an independent, not-for-profit organisation that seeks to improve global health, focusing on researching evidence-based healthcare.  JBI is based in University of Adelaide, South Australia.

The Chronic Disease Management Node (CDM) is a collaboration between the Monash University School of Rural Health and the School of Nursing and Midwifery with Latrobe Community Health Services (Inc.) and Latrobe Regional Hospital. The CDM is based at Monash University and is an affiliate centre of the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI).

The CDM centre focuses on promoting the development and implementation of evidence-based health care in chronic disease. To date the CDM centre has developed over 70 evidence summaries related to chronic diseases to help clinicians make decisions ‘at-the-bedside’. The centre conducts five executive committee meetings throughout the year, publishes two newsletters, has an internationally recognised expert reference group and a corresponding reference group that contributes to peer reviewing of the materials published by the centre. The CDM also focuses on offering electives for students interested in evidence-based health care research and publications. In the near future, the centre will focus on training clinicians, academics and students to undertake quantitative, qualitative and economic evaluation systematic reviews.

Research staff at Bendigo are pleased to welcome Clare McHugh, a PhD student. Her topic is “Exploring community participation interventions for stroke survivors,” which is being supervised by Associate Professor Darryl Maybery and Associate Professor Louise Farnworth.

Dr Anton Neville Isaacs is a lecturer at MUDRIH (Monash University Department of Rural and Indigenous Health)

Describe your job/role

I mostly do research into mental health services for Aboriginal people. I also teach medical and nursing students as part of their Indigenous health and wellbeing program

Why is it important?

Mental disorders are the leading cause of disease burden among Aboriginal people after cardiovascular disease. Reasons can be broadly classified into adverse consequences of colonisation that include ongoing poor socio-economic determinants as well as poor access to services. Population-based approaches to improve socio-economic indicators require huge amounts of resources. However, improving access to services can be achieved by providing an environment where Aboriginal people and non-Aboriginal mental health professionals can work together in a culturally sensitive way. This is not only very rewarding but also result oriented.

Most students have either an incomplete understanding of Aboriginal people or no understanding at all. Their opinions are mostly informed by the media and hearsay. Negative stereotypes of and attitudes towards Aboriginal people need to be challenged if we are to make any progress towards closing the gap.

What is the best aspect of your work with the School of Rural Health?

I cherish the autonomy and freedom I have in choosing the research I do and planning for it.

When you are not at work, what do you enjoy doing?

Spending time at home with my children.

What was your most recent holiday destination and why did you choose it?

Phillip Island. It’s a nice place for a family holiday

If you were emperor for a day, what is one thing you would implement?

A thousand dollar fine for poor road etiquette (Abuse, tail gating, road rage, etc).

Surprise us! What is something about you that most of your peers would not know?

I used to be a Sea Cadet in School and was selected to march in the Republic Day parade at New Delhi. Unfortunately, the group that marched before us was a mounted regiment. Avoiding horse dung and keeping step and formation at the same time was challenging. But as a treat for having been selected to represent the Corps on the national stage, we were allowed to sail on Naval frigates and fly in helicopters.

Congratulations to Dr Julie Willems of MUDRIH on the release of two books in which she is co-author. The books are entitled ‘Global challenges and perspectives in blended distance learning’ and ‘Outlooks and opportunities in blended distance learning’. Well done, Julie!