McArdle bursary
Three bursaries for the Tim McArdle memorial bursary were presented at an awards ceremony on Tuesday night.
The bursaries of $3000 each were presented to bachelor of nursing student Laura Miller, bachelor of medical sciences and doctor of medicine student Emma Stewart and bachelor of nursing and midwifery student Sunday Denny.
The award is in memory of Warragul doctor Tim McArdle who died in 2002 as the result of a bicycle accident.
The ceremony, held at Monash University’s new facility in Sargeant St, Warragul, was attended by members of the McArdle family including Tim’s mother Patricia Wilson, brothers Stephen, Peter and Patrick and sisters Mary and Jacinta.
It is the 15th year of the bursary which was introduced in 2004 following a fundraising campaign and the formation of a local committee to oversee the award.
Committee chairman Cleo Sahhar, Tim’s colleague, said the community was devastated when he died and the bursary was an appropriate way to remember and honour his death.
Cleo said Tim’s contribution to the community was not just in the field of medicine but also in community health and even as a band member with popular function band The Beatroots.
Band member Alan Tatlow recalled fond memories of band nights across West Gippsland and even in Melbourne.
After several years they became known at the Fabulous Beatroots.
He said the repertoire represented a wide range of music.
“The main criteria for songs was is it good, will people like it and does anyone know how to play it.
“Tim usually did or soon taught himself and then the rest of us.
“A competent musical notation sight reader, Tim played rock music by ear, but more importantly, from the heart.”
Alan said the bursary perpetuated the memory and the legacy of a man uniquely gifted in medical skill and practice in musical virtuosity but above all in humanity, generosity and integrity.
“Those receiving the scholarships can gain inspiration from the example of a skilled practitioner of the healing arts, whose life, despite his all too early death sets an example that can serve as a model both in medicine and throughout life for those receiving awards here tonight,” he said.
Latrobe Regional Hospital nurse Samantha Geerling said she was honoured to receive a bursary in 2014. She said the award was a massive financial advantage and a real honour.
Samantha said she hoped to complete a masters degree in public health specialising in rural and remote health.
She said she wanted to help people in her community and give back because other people had assisted her.
To the recipients of this year’s bursary Samantha said “if you don’t walk away with anything else from this speech it is that the life and aspirations of Tim McArdle live on in all of us, his work and personality lives on in all of us.”
Monash University School of Rural Health acting director Cathy Haigh said Monash had a long and positive relationship with the McArdle bursary committee and it was fitting to see the awards being presented to three local students in their first year of study across a range of health professions.
“We are very proud to be associated with this community event that honours the memory of a Monash alumnus given in his name and extending his example in supporting students to acquire the necessary knowledge, skills and professional behaviours to best serve rural health,” Cathy said.
Tim’s brother Peter said study for he and his siblings had been difficult when his father died while they were young.
He honoured his mother who had worked hard to ensure they could all study and he could recall trips she made to Monash University, where he and Tim were studying, loaded with food and home cooking.
He said he was proud of her returning to nursing and then becoming a nurse educator.
He said Tim seemed to do everything effortlessly, including study, music and sport.
Peter said his sporting commitments gave him a good balance when dealing with the heavy schedule of general practice.
Peter said his family were aware that Tim loved living in Warragul and his work and social life.
“I will never forget the day of Tim’s funeral when we became aware of how much Tim meant here with people even lining the streets. It was very very moving,” he said. He had a great impact on this community.” In presenting the bursaries Mrs Wilson wished each recipient well with their future studies.
Members of the bursary committee are include chairman Dr Sahhar, secretary Des Williams, Mavis Gallienne, Carolyn Turner, Cathy Haigh, Ken Thomas, and Chris Fogarty.