A registrar based in Charlton whose home was flooded twice during the summer floods has won the Rural Registrar of the Year.
Dr Adele van der Merwe was recognised for her dedication, hard work and willingness to go above and beyond the call of duty during her year-long tenure in Charlton.
Dr van der Merwe was presented the award during a gala dinner at Rural Medicine Australia 2011, the national conference of the Rural Doctors Association of Australia and the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine, in Alice Springs on Saturday night.
Dr van der Merwe said she had been overwhelmed by the support she had received from the Charlton community.
“The people of Charlton are still suffering the devastation of having lost homes, pets, livestock, income, their hospital, aged care facility and medical clinic,” she said.
“Despite all this, they have maintained their community spirit, their resilience and that great country sense of humour.
“I am humbled and honoured that they nominated me for this award.”
Dr van der Merwe said working in rural medical practices meant that situations often demanded more than good medical knowledge to manage.
“It is always a challenge and you need to think outside the box to find practical solutions when you may not have the ideal equipment at hand,” she said.
Dr van der Merwe was born in South Africa before her family immigrated to Western Australia.
She completed a Bachelor of Science at the University of Western Australia, and after travelling and working for several years, completed her graduate medical course at The University of Sydney.
ACRRM president Jeff Ayton said Dr van der Merwe had made a lasting impression on the town’s residents and medical staff with her cheerful attitude, dedication and wealth of knowledge.
“While Adele was based in Charlton the town was flooded twice, and both times Adele demonstrated her commitment and support for the community, continuing to provide much-needed care at all hours and in all circumstances through these times of crisis,” he said. “The overwhelming support for her nomination we received from her colleagues in Charlton demonstrated the impact she made during her time there, and what a highly deserving recipient she is of this prestigious award.”
President of RDAA Paul Mara said that Dr van der Merwe’s willingness to go above and beyond the call of duty was a key factor in her winning.
“During Adele’s year of placement in Charlton, despite her own accommodation being flooded out twice, Adele found her own temporary accommodation with a relative in a nearby town and continued her service to the community,” he said.
“She also provided much-needed roadside medical care at the town’s evacuation point and later volunteered to work in the temporary medical facility... even after her tenure in Charlton had finished, driving 180km to get there on her day off.”
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