JCU Grads get Queen’s Baton call up

Now working as doctors in regional Queensland, two of the Run to Better Days co-founders, Dr Daniel Charles and Dr Laura Koefler, will be recognised for their efforts when they embark on a much shorter, though more high profile run.

Both doctors have been selected to participate in the Queen’s Baton Relay ahead of the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

“It’s so exciting for me on a personal level. It’s a whole lot of fun because I am such a sports nut!” said Dr Charles.

The nomination came out of the blue for the Cairns based doctor, and he’s grateful for the opportunity to take part in the historic event.

“I think there are more deserving people in the community than me, and it is a bit of a wonder that I ended up being selected.”

Speaking from Thursday Island in the Torres Strait where she’s on a hospital placement, Dr Koefler agreed their selection recognises their charity’s contribution and sends a powerful message.

“It’s fantastic.  The nomination (for the relay) acknowledges that you shouldn’t limit your caring to just people in your immediate area, but instead it should extend to a global community.”

The Queen’s Baton Relay arrives in Brisbane on Christmas Eve after a journey which started at Buckingham Palace with the Queen in March.

Since then it’s made its way across thousands of kilometres travelling through all the nations of the Commonwealth.

The Baton itself holds a message from Queen Elizabeth the Second, which will be read out at the Games’ Opening Ceremony in April 2018.

It will journey across the country, bringing towns and communities together ahead of the official opening of the Games on the Gold Coast.

Dr Charles is relieved that his leg of the relay in Cairns won’t be quite as tough as the annual Run to Better Days journey along the Queensland coast.

“I’ve heard it’s not supposed to be a sprint, I’m banking on that.  I expect it will be a much shorter distance, a walk and run.  I’m hoping it won’t be too strenuous,” he laughed.

Dr Koefler is undaunted by the challenge and is looking forward to taking her place in history, running a relay leg through her home town of Gladstone.

“I think it’s only a couple of hundred metres and there is no specific requirement to run it. I think you can walk it or go at a pace that you want.  There is a time limit, but I don’t think it’s particularly restrictive.”

Both Doctors grew up in regional Queensland and are currently specialising in rural and remote medicine.

A passion fostered while students at JCU, and which has continued past graduation.

“You get to do a lot more of the really cradle to grave medicine with a wide scope of practice, and you really get to engage in the community,” Dr Charles said.

“You feel like you are making a difference for people in rural and remote areas who might not always have had access to the sorts of medical care that you can provide for them.”

With the relay done and dusted, Dr Charles will continue his specialist training in Cairns, while Dr Koefler will take up her training post in Mareeba on the Atherton Tablelands.

For more information on JCU’s rural and remote GP training go to: www.gmt.edu.au/