The Rural Medical Service Award recognises GPs who have provided 35 years or more of medical service to the people of rural, regional and remote New South Wales, and this year, two local GPs have been honoured.
Dr Ian Falson and Dr Chris Mckenzie won awards for long-standing medical service to Ballina at the prestigious 2018 NSW Rural Medical Service Awards hosted by the NSW Rural Doctors Network (RDN) during its annual Rural GPs Conference dinner at the Crowne Plaza Hotel on Coogee Beach in Sydney last Saturday evening.
Dr Falson is a proceduralist GP who has achieved 38 years of medical service for the communities of Port Macquarie and Ballina, the latter where he has worked in his practice since 1995. He has a special interest in primary care skin cancer medicine and is a founding member of the Skin Cancer College of Australasia.
Dr Mckenzie has practised at Ballina Family Medical Centre for 35 years. During this time, he has also provided Visiting Medical Officer services to patients at Ballina Hospital, working both in the Emergency Department and medical wards.
RDN CEO Richard Colbran says Dr Falson and Dr McKenzie have each made a significant contribution to their rural community by providing high quality continuity of care.
‘It is rare for rural doctors to be formally recognised for the outstanding contribution they make to their community and acknowledged for the work they do,’ said Mr Colbran. ‘This award provides a unique opportunity for the people of Ballina to acknowledge the difference that Dr Falson and Dr Mckenzie make to the health and wellbeing of the community.’
NSW Rural Doctors Network Chair, Dr John Curnow presented awards to Dr Ian Falson below left and Dr Chris Mckenzie below right. Photos supplied.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
