Guest Speaker Maryanne Domnellan spoke to us about Gateway Health is a Not-For-Profit Company limited by guarantee and a registered Community Health Service under the Health Services Act 1988 (Vic). Gateway Health focuses on the provision of primary health and welfare services to people at highest risk of poor health outcomes. Services are delivered by over 200 staff members at sites in Wodonga, Wangaratta and Myrtleford in Victoria, and through outreach services provided across North East Victoria and Southern NSW. A broad range of services are provided by Gateway Health ranging from bulk billing medical practices, Allied Health, Alcohol and Drug services including home based withdrawal, counselling services, men’s behaviour change, Victims Assistance, Gamblers Help, Health Promotion, Chronic Disease Management, Indigenous programs, Aged Care services including Assessment, Disability Services, mental health programs including headspace, youth services, young parenting programs, Refugee Health and Sexual Health.

Guest Speaker, Joh Paynter is a Business Owner, Security Guard, Power Boat Race Coordinator, mother and wife and president of the Albury and Border Rescue Squad, but also part of the community. Winston Churchill said “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give” and I wanted to give so when the squad needed a president I knew it was time to come back.  I commenced my involvement with the squad in 2003 but due to family commitments I resigned.  The connection to the squad and the desire to help never ceased and I remained connected through work and the support that it could provide to the squad, then they recovered my husband and boat following a racing incident and two years later they did the same thing for a dear friend. To me the ability to be able to support the squad members with the skills that I have is an honour and to know that their work will be invaluable to someone on what could be the worst day of their life is important and having been in the shoes of a family member I can truly appreciate the treasured work that the squad does.  The squad is a bit like an insurance policy for the community, you know it’s there and you never want to use it, but when you do you realise what it was worth.