Foundation welcomes new Minister Warren Snowdon and Gordon Gregory Honour
June 9, 2009The Rural Health Education Foundation has welcomed Warren Snowdon as the new Minister for Indigenous Health, Rural and Regional Health and Regional Services Delivery, which was announced by the Prime Minister on 6 June 2009.
The Hon Warren Snowdon, MP, is the Federal Member for Lingiari, which his website describes as “the most interesting and diverse electorate in Australia”. It includes all of the towns and communities in the Northern Territory outside Darwin, as well as Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands. Warren Snowdon was previously the Minister for Defence Science and Personnel.
Commenting on the Prime Minister’s announcement, Foundation CEO Don Perlgut said that “The Rural Health Education Foundation is most pleased that the Government has created a ministerial position with direct responsibility for all of the areas in which we work. We look forward to working closely with the new Minister.”
On behalf of the Foundation, Don Perlgut also welcomed the news that Gordon Gregory has received an Order of Australia Medal (OAM), announced on June 8, 2009, for services to rural health and the National Rural Health Alliance, of which he is the Executive Director. “I first worked with Gordon Gregory at the Rural Development Centre at the University of New England in the 1980s”, said Don Perlgut. “This honour is eminently deserved by one of the most tireless and committed people working to improve Australia’s rural and remote health outcomes.”