Libby Kalucy, PHC RIS
 The large crowd at the opening of the Mount Gambier Office of Flinders University Rural Clinical School and Greater Green Triangle (GGT) University Department of Rural Health by the Hon Tony Abbott MP, Minister for Health and Ageing on Monday 4 June 2007 demonstrated the importance of this facility to rural health education and training.
The $2.1 million building provides worthy facilities for students and staff, as part of the process of transforming country health services around Australia, so that going to the country is seen as a fulfilling experience rather than a period in exile. Professor Ann Edwards, Vice Chancellor of Flinders University emphasised how vital Australian Government funding was for this new building, for rural clinical schools and departments of rural health, and for providing seed funding for the Graduate Entry Medical Program at Flinders University.
As well as the Australian Government, many other sectors contributed to developing this facility - the SA State government, Country Health SA, Mt Gambier hospital, the GGT University Department of Rural Health run jointly by Flinders University and Deakin University, and Flinders University Rural Clinical School. The building symbolises the collective wish to establish a sustainable rural workforce for this region, according to Dr Lucie Walters, the acting co-director of FURCS.
It was fitting that the building was opened in the presence of Professor Lindon Wing who had made a huge personal commitment to the Department of Rural Health in Mt Gambier, and who retired as Dean of the School of Medicine at Flinders University on 31 May. He has been replaced by Professor Paul Worley, previously Director of the Flinders University Rural Clinical School who was responsible for implementing the innovative Parallel Rural Community Curricula for community based medical education.
Libby Kalucy
Director, PHC RIS
E: libby.kalucy@flinders.edu.au
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