Caption – Board Chair Anna Sweeney with Life Governor Darren Barber
Western District Health Service (WDHS) has recognised three inspirational locals for their service to the organisation over many years.
The WDHS Life Governor Awards are presented annually to individuals who demonstrate outstanding service and show a commitment to advancing health care in the region and beyond.
This year retired Diabetes Educator, John Kearney, former National Centre for Farmer Health Director, Professor Susan Brumby and previous WDHS Board Chairperson, Darren Barber were made honorary WDHS ‘Life Governors’.
Chief Executive, Rohan Fitzgerald says the awards are a celebration of excellence and dedication to healthcare delivery.
“I have worked closely with both Sue and Darren, and admired the work of John and the Diabetes team for many years. We are so fortunate to have such committed individuals driving change and improving health outcomes locally, nationally and internationally.
Mr Kearney started his working life as a farmer and shearer and transitioned into nursing when his children were young.
While working in the Hamilton Base Hospital male medical unit, he became aware of the challenges for people living with diabetes and felt a deep desire to understand the disease more fully.
John went on to become one of the early diabetes educators in Victoria and pioneered and developed the Diabetes Education service at WDHS to what it is today – two full time Diabetes Educator roles with a support care coordinator, including paediatric clinics with the Royal Children’s Hospital, and regional clinics in GP practices in Coleraine, Casterton, and Hamilton.
John retired in July 2022 after a 37 year career in public health working at WDHS.
Professor Brumby’s involvement at WDHS began as a nurse and midwife, she then took up the role of Director of Community Services where she led the development and delivery of the highly successful and award winning Sustainable Farm Families (SFF) program.
Sue became the founding Director of the National Centre for Farmer Health in 2009, leading a multidisciplinary team to make a difference to the health, wellbeing and safety of Australia’s farmers through a unique combination of research, service delivery, education and training, and engagement with rural communities.
Sue has not been content to limit her vision to ‘Australia’s healthiest rural community’. Instead she has brought the world to the NCFH and NCFH to the world—supporting the health, wellbeing and safety of farming populations globally.
While stepping back from the Director role in 2021, she continues to be a mentor to many, encouraging professional and personal growth by supporting staff and students to achieve great things as academic, health and community leaders.
Mr Barber provided nine years of dedicated service to the WDHS Board. During his term he took on the significant responsibility of Board Chair for two years bringing a wealth of corporate and local government knowledge to the Board and helping to steer WDHS through two years of the pandemic. During Darren’s term, the Board committed to a significant capital works program, which included completing the Cancer and Dialysis Centre and the Birches redevelopment, as well as commencing the $6.8M Penshurst Aged Care redevelopment and securing an MRI for Hamilton Base Hospital.
