Katanning doctors Nicolas Du Preez and Petrus Lotter recognised for 20 years of service to regional WA

Katanning doctors Nicolas Du Preez and Petrus Lotter have been recognised for marking 20 years of service to the rural communities at the WA Rural Health Long Service Awards. Fifty diligent docs from around WA gathered on February 23 for the awards hosted by WA Country Health Service and Rural Health West that celebrate country practitioners marking milestones of 20, 30 and 40 years in rural medicine. This year, 25 doctors marked 20 years of service and Rural Health West executive officer Tim Shackleton congratulated the rural health stalwarts. “A long-standing local doctor who knows and understands the community and the families they care for makes a tremendous difference to the health and wellbeing of their patients,” he said. “These doctors have had a profound impact on the health and well-being of many, many people over many years and we are honoured to celebrate their achievements through these awards.” WA Country Health Service Chief Executive Jeff Moffet acknowledged the challenges rural practitioners can face and the impact they nonetheless have. “On behalf of the entire WA Country Health Service, thank you for all you’ve done, and continue to do,” he said. “WA Country Health Service is the largest rural health jurisdiction in Australia and one of the biggest in the world. “Put simply, without clinicians like our Long Service Award recipients, caring for rural and remote communities would be even more challenging. “They play such a fundamental role in advancing the health outcomes in the bush, but also support our hospitals and health services on a day-to-day basis.”