with no notice, which keeps us on our toes. We have become experts at juggling the books. Well it is time to go and watch the sun set over the Cottesloe beach. We wish all the members of the Corp the best for 2009.
Puckapunyal Health Centre - Dental Puckapunyal, VIC Ms Carley Tolson Hi there from all of us at sunny Puckapunyal Dental. As always in the Defence dental world, there have been farewells and new additions to the team. In May this year, we lost Jo Mayfield (hygienist) to a posting in the USA with her husband and three children. Her departure has been difficult as there will be no replacement for that position until Febuary 2009. We have also lost two dental assistants this year, Tracey Falla and Amber Macreadie. On a brighter note, Dr Scott Freeman, formerly LTCOL Freeman, has come aboard and is working here 6 days per month. Scott has slipped into the team wonderfully with his expertise and endless Defence knowledge. Scott and our Senior Dentist, Dr Rishi (who has been with us for 5 years now), went through university together back in the day! The latest addition is dental assistant Elizabeth Hemming who has been with us since May. Since Aspen Medical have taken over the contract at AWDS, Latchford Barracks, I have had the opportunity to visit the dental unit. It is always nice to see and learn about how another unit operates. It has been an interesting year grasping all the changes to the reporting, practice planners, water testing and so on. It all sounded a little scary at the beginning but for the most part, it has made our lives easier. Internally, our accreditation is coming up again this December and our quality systems are being reviewed.
Kim Stephens and CPL Daniel Kempster working hard with the turnover. Speaking of lab dwellers, CPL Kempster helps out at HMAS KUTTABUL 2 days a week, is a star on the footy field winning ‘Best on Ground’ in a local comp and married his favourite girl Alice. Congratulations Kempey. CPL Stephens whipped up a magnificent Corps Badge for WO1 Chiesa in no time at all (picture), cruised through her Subject 1 SGT Course and received a posting an hour down the road to Holsworthy Barracks. The sharp end of the unit is in very capable hands with CPL Jo Reed who runs the desk and keeps a close eye on EVERYTHING and EVERYONE. She participated in adventure training this year along side WO2 Ursula Friend and PTE Ryan Cowgill and as to be expected entertained the group with her antics and outgoing personality, (they are still talking about her today). Unfortunately for RHC, Jo is posted to Perth and we have no doubt her infectious personality won’t go astray.
Education has been high on our agenda this year with Dr Rishi recently completed an implant dentistry course at Melbourne University. Sandy Clark, our longest serving dental assistant, has completed her Certificate III in Sterilisation Services and is thrilled to be the recently appointed “Infection Control Recourse Guru” for the medical centre. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the dental team here at PDS for the ongoing dedication and top quality service, which is greatly appreciated by the members. We wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and look forward to reading all your updates.
Randwick Health Centre – Dental Randwick Barracks, Randwick, NSW MAJ Werner Voss Hello to all the avid readers of CADMUS. A very exciting year was had by all here at Randwick Dental starting with the promotion of CPL Nikki Kirkhope to SGT, the arrival of the new Corps Warrant Officer WO1 Kym Chiesa (whom we don’t see much of as she travels around the country side) and the lab dwellers CPL
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PTE Madi Gurkin and PTE Ryan Cowgill came to us brand spanking new from HMAS CERBERUS. PTE Cowgill was detached to Victoria Barracks mid year and proved to be a good operator by helping out medical and running the dental section. Good luck to him as he is now off to Brisbane. PTE Gurkin has come a long way this year but is also leaving us for a posting to Darwin (hopefully she will finally get a car licence there). PTE Sonia Nicholls marched in July 08 after 6 years in civilian land. She has completed her Senior Dental Assistants Course, was promoted to
CADMUS 2008