March 24, 2017
While many South Burnett residents were relaxing at Wine and Food in the Park – or having fun at the Proston Show – there was a much more serious get-together also taking place in the region.
On March 11-12, 120 health professionals gathered at the TAFE Qld South West campus in Kingaroy for the bi-annual “Red Ant Round-Up” medical conference.
The conference was organised by the Darling Downs and West Moreton Public Health Network, in conjunction with General Practice Training Queensland and the Kingaroy GP Chapter Network.
Specialists, GPs, nurses and other health staff solemnly discussed “emergency medicine in a rural setting”, with topics covered including eye injuries, infection control, cardiac emergencies, poisonings, ectopic pregnancy and anaphylactic shock.
Specialist speakers with both national and international experienced delivered the presentations.
“Being able to offer quality education and a conference of this size in a rural community is invaluable to our local medical professionals,” conference co-organiser Jill-Anne Wheeler, from Queensland Rural Medical Education, said.
“Due to workforce shortages, it is often difficult for local medical practitioners to leave the area to attend additional education.
“Special thanks to TAFE Qld South West Kingaroy Campus for partnering with PHN, and providing the perfect setting for the educational context of the conference.
“A mention must also go to the fabulous hospitality students and staff at the Kingaroy TAFE,who under the guidance from JC Catering and their hospitality teacher Sandra Perry, provided the conference delegates with fabulous local catering and hospitality throughout the event.
“The conference included a family entertainment program, allowing families to join in the weekend and explore our local area while delegates attended the conference.
“This included lunch at Wine and Food in the Park, afternoon tea at the beautiful Bunya Mountains, face painting and balloon twisting workshops and a fabulous wildlife demonstration by Dreamtime Reptiles.”
On Saturday evening, 140 delegates gathered at the Kingaroy Town Hall for an evening of entertainment, including a keynote address by Vice President Rural Doctors Association of Australia Dr John Hall.
“Local band Misfitz set the mood for the evening, with roving magician Dave Lord perplexing guests with his card tricks,” Jill-Anne said.
[Photos by Julie Dillon and southburnett.com.au]
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Town Hall Dinner
