A dedicated Rural Generalist doctor who has served the Victorian alpine community of Mount Beauty for more than 40 years, as well as the nearby ski resort of Falls Creek and other towns in the region, has received the ACRRM-RDAA Peter Graham ‘Cohuna’ Award for 2023.

Dr Mark Zagorski was presented with the award at the Rural Medicine Australia (RMA23) conference dinner in Hobart on Friday night.

Presented annually by the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) and Rural Doctors Association of Australia (RDAA), the Award recognises rural doctors who provide outstanding advocacy and medical service to their community.

It has been awarded since 2008 in memory of the late Dr Peter Graham, who served the Cohuna community in rural Victoria for 48 years.

ACRRM President, Dr Dan Halliday, said: “Mark is one of those exceptional rural doctors who is not only an icon in his local community, but more widely across the profession of Rural Medicine.

“He has shown a life-time commitment to his community, not only as a dedicated GP who has looked after his patients from cradle to grave, but also as a Rural Generalist Anaesthetist who has supported a visiting surgical service to the region for many years – making it easier for local patients to access surgical care close to home.

“As a dedicated teacher and mentor to the many medical students, registrars and interns who have passed through his town, Mark has been instrumental in the recruitment of doctors to his community – including his own daughter, Laura.

“He has been highly sought after by hundreds of students and registrars in no small part due to the skills, experience and easy going teaching style that he and his colleagues have provided.

“Mark has also been a mentor for John Flynn Scholarship students for many years, which involves a medical student being ‘attached’ to his practice. Mark has made himself available to these students 24/7, a commitment they have no doubt greatly appreciated.

“He is a Foundation Fellow of ACRRM and has been an active member of our College since its inception, particularly as a GP Supervisor – we are greatly appreciative of his significant service in this regard.”

RDAA President, Dr RT Lewandowski, said: “Mark has not only made an exceptional contribution to his community, but also to the profession of Rural Medicine.

“In addition to his work with ACRRM, Mark served on the Management Committee of the Rural Doctors Association of Victoria (RDAV), including as Treasurer for 27 years – and while we have joked that being Treasurer for this long is surely worthy of an Award in its own right, for a busy rural doctor this is an additional role that has had to be factored into an already busy schedule – so his service in this respect has been greatly appreciated.

“He is an active medical trainer to the local Falls Creek Ski Patrol – providing regular training to ensure they can cope with the trauma that occurs on the ski slopes – and he provides regular training sessions to the local hospital nursing staff as well as health education to local community groups.

“Mark was awarded an Order of Australia Medal in 2019 and was named RDAA’s Rural Doctor of the Year in 2008. Just like this Award, both were highly deserved recognition of all he has done for his community and for his profession.”

Dr Zagorski said: “Peter Graham was the quintessential Rural GP, providing not only complete services to his community of Cohuna but also supporting rural doctors throughout Victoria and Australia. He was an inspiration and mentor to me and I was proud to work alongside him for many years on the RDAV Committee. I continue to enjoy working in my community as a Rural GP and feel extremely honoured to receive the Peter Graham ‘Cohuna’ Award in recognition of my work, but I must thank my wife Jane and my practice team who have been with me all the way.”