PHOTO: Front page in August 2007 at the official opening of the CAHS clinic in Tooloon Street. Practice Manager Fran Mooy, Kevin Arrowsmith, Kelly Hodges, Ted Fernando, CEO Rebecca Dawson and Wayne Fernando.
THE Coonamble Aboriginal Health Service marked a major milestone on Friday night 11 August with around 210 people enjoying a Gala Dinner at Coonamble Bowling Club for the organisation’s belated 15th Anniversary.
As with all important achievements, the concept of an Aboriginal-controlled local health service started small – with conversations between community members and discussions among personnel in local groups.
By all reports these conversations reach back around 1989.
By 1994 indications of support had been garnered from the local Hospital, the then Macquarie Area Health Service, Walgett Aboriginal Medical Service, the Aboriginal Health & Medical Research Council (AHMRC) and others.
After the stamp of approval from local Elders, representations to various arms of government began to gain momentum, including trips to Walgett, Wellington, Sydney and Canberra often funded from residents’ own pockets.
Jan Arrowsmith and Janelle (Nugget) Whitehead describe one such trip when, after a successful round of meetings in Sydney, they were driving home late in the evening.
“We got just out of Lithgow and the headlights shorted out on our car, leaving us in the dark,” Ms Whitehead said.
“Then a truck came past with huge lights so we tailgated that truck from town to town in the early hours because we both had to be back at work the next morning.”
A committee was formed by local Aboriginal community members and by June 2005, they had secured a funding commitment from the Office of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Health (OATSIH) to begin an outreach service. The Wellington Aboriginal Community Health Service agreed to act as auspice body.
“This funding enabled the service to employ a doctor two to three days a week, a part-time receptionist and a full-time health worker as well as an amount of money to set up the service, including a car,” the Coonamble Times reported in the 16 November 2005 edition.
“The service negotiated the use of premises in the Kookaburra Arcade in Tooloon Street … renting every available room.”
PHOTO: Coonamble Times 6.2.2008.
An independent consultant was employed to review the requirements for the Coonamble Aboriginal health service and, following a “series of workshops with Aboriginal representatives and partnership organisations,” a report was completed.
In November that year, then Chairperson of the Coonamble Aboriginal Health Service, Wayne Fernando, told the Coonamble Times that the Coonamble outreach medical service had been given verbal approval for a stand-alone Aboriginal Health Service.
He also indicated that a permanent home for the service would be needed.
“For the time being I believe the best site for our health service to start from is the arcade which we are presently renting,” Mr Fernando said in the article.
A meeting was held on 25 January 2006 to review draft plans for the Kookaburra Arcade’s transformation into an Aboriginal Health Service.
An advertisement for a Project Officer to support the development of CAHS appeared in the Coonamble Times on 1 March 2006 and renovations began around 12 months later.
In March 2007, the CEO position was advertised, followed in April by Practice Manager, Senior Aboriginal Health Worker, Aboriginal Health Worker, Transport Officer, Medical Receptionist and Administration Officer positions.
The Aboriginal Health Service made front page news when it was officially opened on Tuesday 21 August 2007 in the former Kookaburra Arcade at 17 Tooloon Street, the site still occupied by the medical centre today.
Special guests included Sandra Bailey, CEO of the AH&MRC of NSW, and State Branch Manager of the Department of Health & Ageing OATSIH Vicki Murphy who, with local elders Eric Fernando and Thelma Leonard (senior) unveiled the plaque.
Board members at the time included Jan Arrowsmith (Chair), Raquel Arrowsmith, Maisie Fernando, Gloria Fernando and Lyle Kennedy along with shire councillors Tim Horan and Michael Webb.
CEO was Rebecca Dawson, a registered nurse and former Regional Co-ordinator for OATSIH and Practice Manager was Fran Mooy, a registered nurse of many years experience.
In December 2007, a notice calling for people wanting to become members of the new Coonamble Aboriginal Health Service.
A new milestone was achieved on 7 January 2008 when the first full-time doctor Younes Ismail was appointed to the CAHS medical practice.
The rest, as they say, is history.
In 2023 the organisation employs almost 100 staff and has expanded from humble beginnings to service multiple communities with separate health facilities in Dubbo and Gilgandra and a Medical Centre, Dental Surgery, Gymnasium and Funeral Service operating in Coonamble.
The Coonamble Aboriginal Health Service is a widely-recognised success delivering medical and allied health services, health awareness and behaviour-change programs to the region’s communities.
CAHS remains independent, with a local board of management and a highly-skilled team of health professionals and local Aboriginal administration and support staff.
Current board members are Brendon (BJ) Harris, Chairperson; Jan Arrowsmith, Deputy Chair; Gloria Fernando, Angela Fernando, Saffia Fernando and Les Trindall.
Phil Naden has been CEO since 2019 with Beau Ewers as Executive Officer – Far West.
Ruth Luppino is Practice Manager of the CAHS-owned Aboriginal Medical Service in Tooloon Street.
Shay Hooper is Practice Manager of Coonamble Dental Surgery, Donna Harris is Funeral Director at Coonamble District Funerals and Brittany Baker is Manager of Coonamble Gym.
The GPs at Coonamble AMS are currently Dr Lorraine Wheeldon, Dr Kenan Yagnur and Dr Robert Reid.
Congratulations to the whole team.