Mid West doctors Craig Drummond and John Mateljan recognised in WA Rural Health Long Service Awards

Two long-serving Mid West doctors have been recognised for their decades of dedication to rural healthcare. They were among 50 rural medicos from across the State to be acknowledged at last week’s WA Rural Health Long Service Awards, hosted by Rural Health West and the WA Country Health Service. The awards celebrate 20, 30 and 40-year milestones in rural medicine. Dongara doctor Craig Drummond was lauded for 30 years of service, while Geraldton doctor John Mateljan was a 20-year award recipient. “A long-standing local doctor who knows and understands the community and the families they care for makes a tremendous difference to the health and wellbeing of their patients,” Rural Health West CEO Tim Shackleton said. “We are honoured to celebrate their achievements through these awards.” WA Country Health Service CEO Jeff Moffet praised all award recipients and acknowledged the important role they played in the sustainability of country hospitals and health services. “WA Country Health Service is the largest rural health jurisdiction in Australia and one of the biggest in the world,” he said. “Put simply, without clinicians like our long service award recipients, caring for rural and remote communities would be even more challenging.”