The annual John Aloizos Medal aims to recognise and acknowledge individuals who have made an exceptional contribution to the Divisions Network. The award is an opportunity to celebrate individual excellence and service to Divisions in supporting their continued role in general practice and primary care.

The Medal is named in honour of Dr John Aloizos, inaugural Chairman of the Australian Divisions of General Practice Ltd. and one of the founders of the Divisions movement in Australia. John was a member of the Review of the General Practice Strategy (1997-98) and the inaugural Chairman of Australian General Practice Accreditation Ltd (AGPAL 1997- 2003), where he played a key role in establishing the accreditation system for general practice.

Dr Grahame Deane has served on the Board of the Barwon Division of General Practice since its inception 10 years ago and spent 4 years (non consecutively) as Chair of the Board. Grahame has also served the NSW Rural Doctors Network (RDN) tirelessly as a Board member since its inception and as the RDN Board Chairman for 2 years. He was also a member of the Rural Doctors Resource Network (RDRN) Management Committee prior to its amalgamation with Rural Divisions Coordinating Unit (RDCU) to form the current RDN.

RDN would like to congratulate Grahame on this outstanding achievement.

Issues of rural representation have again come up with changes to the ADGP constitution, which mean there is no longer a guarantee of rural representation on the ADGP Board. Dr Sue Page, Chair of RDA (NSW) has said there could be time during the RDA Planning Session on Saturday afternoon 29th November at the RDA / RDN AGMs if Divisions have members attending or who could attend. Rural representation is something we have all fought hard for over the years, and it is something we need to hang on to in all our organisations. Ian Cameron

Sue Marshall has had 27 years experience working for General Practitioners and Specialists. She is now working as a locum medical receptionist/secretary.

• She has her own mobile home
• Is able to travel anywhere for short or long term assignments
• CVs, references, etc are available on request

Contact Sue on 0414 278 643 or via email on xuois63@hotmail.com

On Tuesday December 2nd, the Rural Health Education Foundation (RHEF) will broadcast a satellite television program on "Improving Outcomes for the Rural and Remote Patient with Chronic Heart Failure (CHF)". The program will improve the knowledge and skills of clinicians in the diagnosis, treatment and management of CHF patients; increase understanding of CHF National Guidelines; and explain the potential importance of telephone support in the management of CHF patients.

For more program details, go to http://www.rhef.com.au/programs/319/319.html

This program will all be broadcast to the 550 sites of the Rural Health Education Foundation’s rural health satellite network at 8.00pm (eastern daylight savings time), repeated in WA at 8.00pm Perth time, and repeated again at 1.30pm eastern time on Friday December 5th.

The program is accredited for CPD for the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) and as a CME activity for the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM).

For further information, please contact:

Rural Health Education Foundation Tel: (02) 6232-5480; Fax: (02) 6232-5484

email: rhef@rhef.com.au website: www.rhef.com.au

Bush Crisis Line is a twenty-four hour confidential telephone support and debriefing service for multi-disciplinary remote and rural health practitioners and their families. It is staffed by qualified psychologists with remote and cross-cultural experience, is toll free and available from anywhere in Australia. For more information please access: http://www.crana.org.au/pandp_bcl.html

The "Australian Journal of Rural Health" is a refereed journal with a national and international reputation for quality scholarship. Its focus is multi-disciplinary and it includes articles of interest to general practitioners, nurses, allied health professionals, pharmacists, health administrators, universities and rural health units. For more information, see: http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/journals/ajr/