QRMFN welcomes a new committee member

Sallyella and her family.

The QRMFN Committee are delighted to welcome Sallyella Sloss to the 2016/17 executive team! Below are a few words from Sallyella.

My husband Jack and I both grew up on properties near Goondiwindi and have heart for Indigenous communities and remote living. We arrived in Thursday Island in 2010 and fell in love with the location and community. It has continued to suit us as our family has grown to now include Chanelle who is 4 and Madoc who is 2. Jack enjoys the mix of medicine from being a remote island GP, treating PNG patients on Boigu and Obstetrics. Life on Thursday Island reminds me a lot of growing up in small communities in the 70's where kids are raised by the village and run free of most modern cares or pressures. 

The housing of all medical on call staff in one area, close to the hospital, has created a unique little commune of colleagues that I am so grateful for. Around our small grass quadrangle live 18 children, most of whom are aged between 1-5yo. It means that there is never a shortage of playmates, support, or a parent to have a beer with at the end of the day. One negative aspect of living on Thursday Island is that there is a high turnover ex-pats. It can feel as though you lose a lot of friends at the end of each year. But to combat this, Thursday Island seems to continue to attract wonderful people who are committed to improving Indigenous health and contributing to our community. I am so grateful that my children are growing up surrounded by such people and in this amazing community.

Amongst all these positives, there have been times along our journey that have been challenging. It is during these times that Jack and I have been incredibly grateful for the support of the RDAQ and QRMFN Networks. We would not have been able to continue living here without this support and being able to seek advice from amazing mentors in the RDAQ Network. It is such a joy to meet with dear friends and previous colleagues at the conference each year.

QRMFN Family Program at RDAQ 2016

Drumming circle at the Conference Family Night

The Family Program at this year’s RDAQ conference was another highlight of the QRMFN 2016 calendar. We had 68 kids and 42 families and partners across our three day activity program this year.

The children had a chance to catch up and re-establish friendships at the children’s meet and greet on Thursday night. They were entertained by Tamara the face-painting fairy and balloon animal extraordinaire, as well as our team of delightful nannies. The kids feasted and played games, participated in art and craft activities and even held some impromptu karaoke! On Friday morning, the children participated in Rhythm Culture’s drum workshop. Thank you to all those parents who participated in the workshop – what an experience! All QRMFN members were invited to the concurrent (and slightly quieter) AGM and high tea luncheon. It was then on to Aussie World for an evening of storybooks and wonderlands at RDAQ Far Far Away! There was an opportunity to try out the rides and side shows at the amusement park and then to dinner at Hogwarts, dessert at the Mad Hatters Tea Party (complete with chocolate fountain of course!) and a chance to walk the plank on Pirate Island or get lost with Winnie-the-Pooh in the 100 Acre Wood. On Saturday a day trip was organised to Sea Life Aquarium at Mooloolaba followed by fresh fish and chips. On Saturday night we wrapped up the program with the kids’ Magic and Movies night. Vince the Magician wowed us with tricks and then it was time to settle down with blankets, pillows and movie snacks for an evening of viewing adventure, supervised again by our wonderful team of nannies. 

2016 Backbone of the Bush Achievement Award

Bec Telfer our 2016 BotB Award recipient

Every year QRMFN recognises the incredible contributions made by the spouses and partners of Queensland’s rural doctors through the presentation of the ‘Backbone of the Bush Award’. This Award is presented by QRMFN President at the RDAQ conference Gala Dinner held in June.

This year’s recipient is Bec Telfer, from Stanthorpe. Bec has contributed to numerous community organisations and events, both local and national, since moving to their community 10 years ago. Bec has organised events for new doctors and medical students to meet with other local health service providers, and welcoming them into the Telfer home.  When presented with the award, a surprised and humbled Bec had this to say: “It was really lovely to be acknowledged, I don’t really feel that I have done anything exceptional, I’ve just done what I am able to do. I feel volunteering has given me much more than I have given, it was almost overwhelming to be awarded for it too! And let’s face it, if you have to choose between volunteering towards something you believe in and doing the housework, then… !!”

Bec has been instrumental in fundraising for organisations including the local school, the Australian Breastfeeding Association, kindergarten, sporting and arts groups. She also finds time to act as the school’s tuckshop coordinator.  

Professionally, Bec has worked as a casual midwife for Queensland Health, as a community midwife, has run antenatal education groups and spent time as a nurse at a local aged care home. Through all this, Bec has also remained the primary caregiver to the three Telfer children.

Bec is a founding member of the MUMSS (Mother’s United for Maternity Services Stanthorpe), a group that campaigned successfully for improved maternity facilities that culminated in a $1.4 million dollar upgrade to the local birthing facilities in Stanthorpe hospital. Bec was also the Membership Secretary and a member of the Executive Committee for the national Maternity Coalition for several years. 

A quote from her husband James, sums up Bec’s amazing contribution to her community “People think that a town gains from a new doctor coming to town. The greatest asset for Stanthorpe when I came to town was Bec.”