RACGP Queensland Fellowship and Awards ceremony held in Townsville

On Friday 9 August, RACGP Queensland held its faculty meeting, annual members’ meeting and Fellowship and Awards ceremony at the Ville Resort in Townsville. 
 
The ceremony was attended by RACGP President Dr Harry Nespolon, Vice President Dr Ayman Shenouda and RACGP Queensland Chair Dr Bruce Willett, as well as representatives of the North Queensland Primary Health Network and MP Nick Dametto, Member for Hinchinbrook.
 
Dr Willett told newsGP that RACGP Queensland’s choice to hold these key events in Townsville represented its commitment to rural and remote practice.
 
‘This decision makes the RACGP the only specialist medical college conducting a regular Fellowship and Awards ceremony outside of the capital cities,’ he said.
 
The Fellowship and Awards ceremony’s keynote speech was delivered by Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill, who spoke about the important role GPs and general practices play in the North Queensland community.
 
Mayor Hill was followed by Dr Karen Woods, who gave a valedictory speech outlining her personal journey to becoming a doctor, which included a life-threatening health struggle.
 
‘She gave a beautiful speech about her path to general practice and how it was interrupted by leukaemia treatment. It was really inspiring and a highlight of the night,’ Dr Bruce Willet said.
 
Dr Willett declared the night an unqualified success and looks forward to further events to come.
 
‘It was a really good day, everyone enjoyed it,’ he said.
 
Friday’s events were followed by an RACGP exam preparation workshop on Saturday, which Dr
Willett described as an indication of the RACGP’s commitment to education provision beyond the major cities.
 
‘RACGP Queensland has substantially increased the amount of education and other activities taking place outside the major centres –  more than 50% of its education events are now outside of Brisbane,’ he said.
 
‘The RACGP is also the only specialist medical college to conduct all aspects of the exam and exam training in North Queensland.
 
‘This is part of a real and ongoing commitment of the RACGP to Queensland, and to rural and regional Australia generally.’

Fellowship ceremony General practice education General Practice exams Queensland RACGP Queensland