Well-earned recognition for retiring ‘rural legends’

Two long-standing RACGP Rural Council members, Dr Tim Mooney and Associate Professor John Kramer, have announced they will retire from the Council and their Committee work.
 
The duo have held multiple roles within the RACGP Rural Faculty over the years, and immediate Past Chair Associate Professor Ayman Shenouda responded to the news by commending their contribution, saying they ‘always volunteered’ their time and expertise to help advance the faculty.
 
‘Both John and Tim are rural legends,’ he told newsGP.
 
‘They were there from the start of the rural faculties as rural doctors, and community owes them for their commitment and dedication – they live and understand rural issues.
 
‘When I was [Rural] Chair, I relied on John’s wisdom when facing challenges and on Tim’s ability to make things happen, especially with the establishment of the Rural Generalist pathway and Fellowship.’ 
 
Associate Professor Kramer recently retired as the RACGP Rural Workforce Agencies Representative, after holding the position since 2022, alongside roles across various capacities since the 1990s, including training general practice registrars and teaching at UNSW’s Rural Medical School.
 
A GP rural New South Wales since 1981, he was honoured at the 2016 NSW Rural Medical Service Awards for providing 35 years of service to the Woolgoolga community.
 
In addition to his RACGP Rural commitments, Associate Professor Kramer is also the inaugural Chair of RACGP Specific Interests ADHD, ASD and Neurodiversity, launched in late October 2021.
 
Meanwhile, Dr Mooney was elected Chair of the Rural Education Committee (REC) in 2018, having already served on the RACGP Tasmania Council for many years.
 
Born and raised in George Town, rural Tasmania, Dr Mooney has been a practising GP in his local community for more than 40 years.
 
Possessing a commitment to both his community and medical education, he was a founding member of the Rural Doctors Association of Tasmania and has been heavily involved with the RACGP in examiner and registrar supervisor roles, receiving the national RACGP GP Supervisor of the Year award in 2013.
 
In 2017, his decades of dedication were recognised when he was made a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to support of doctors in rural and remote communities.
 
RACGP Rural Chair and Vice President, Associate Professor Michael Clements, praised Dr Mooney for his commitment to rural general practice.
 
‘It has been important and vital to have Dr Mooney’s voice and guidance with his many years of history to support the functions of the REC and Council,’ Associate Professor Clements told newsGP.
 
‘Many small conversations with Tim have led to significant changes in direction and advocacy points and we will all continue to use him in an unofficial capacity to support our work.’
 
Newly appointed REC Chair, Dr John Buckley, told newsGP he hopes to continue down the path established by his predecessor by harnessing Dr Mooney’s passion for rural medicine and supporting the next generation of regional GPs.
 
‘I want to continue the great work of the faculty in supporting accessible and meaningful education for remote and rural GPs,’ Dr Buckley said.
 
‘The RACGP has key roles – advocacy for members and communities, support for members, setting and maintaining standards for the profession and developing and training future membership and workforce.
 
‘Cutting across several of these areas is education in its many forms and at all levels. The REC provides an overview and support for education as needed for remote and rural members and feeds expertise into college approaches and activities.
 
‘The role of the Chair is to facilitate the expertise available and channel the advice, ideas and support in ways that maximise effectiveness.’
 
Recognising the committee also provides valuable support and advice to the Faculty Council and its Chair, Dr Buckley uses point-of-care ultrasound training as an example of ‘an incredible asset’ to remote and rural members, and says he would ‘love to come up with the next big thing’ to help rural members in their work.
 
As a self-described city-born-and-raised kid with little rural experience, Dr Buckley was a 16-year-old finishing school when he decided to take on a state-based scholarship for medical school which required a return of service rurally.
 
‘Fortunately, I thrived medically and personally in rural and regional work for 10 years after graduation,’ he said.
 
‘On return to Brisbane, I began 28 years in GP education and training, always having a portfolio for rural training. What I love most about rural practice is the inspiring colleagues I see all over Australia.’
 
Associate Professor Shenouda welcomed Dr Buckley as the new REC Chair.
 
‘He’s lived and breathed education all his professional life, and is a mentor to a lot of medical educators across the country, myself included,’ he said.
 
‘He is the best person I know to take the position of Chair of the REC.’
 
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RACGP Rural Rural Council rural education rural general practice