Chairperson of the Forster Local Health Advisory Committee (LHAC), Karon Devenish, has thanked Dr Annette Clement for her dedicated service to the Committee and wished her well in her future endeavours.

Ms Devenish said Dr Clement had decided to leave the LHAC so she could devote more time to supporting cancer services locally.

Dr Clement, a retired general practitioner from Smiths Lake, was an inaugural member of the Forster Local Health Advisory Committee, which first convened in June 2005.

The Forster Local Health Advisory Committee provides advice to the local Health Service Manager on the needs of local communities, the development of local Health Service Strategic Plans, and service delivery.

"Dr Clement has been a very enthusiastic and active member of the Committee, and her contributions have made a real impact," Ms Devenish said.

"We are sad to lose her as a member of the Committee but are glad she will continue to provide advice to the LHAC about cancer services and serve as the consumer representative on the Cancer Voices program.

"Dr Clement has been deeply committed to the welfare of the local community and was driving force behind many of the LHAC’s initiatives.

"She formulated a Transport Survey to help identify gaps and difficulties for patients getting to and from medical appointments and hospitals.

"She was also instrumental in encouraging Jon Gemmell from Eumundi Primary School in Queensland to speak about their Permaculture Program at the Child Health Expo in September 2006. Since that presentation many schools in the Great Lakes boast a vegetable garden."

Ms Devenish said Dr Clements’ professionalism and knowledge has been very much appreciated by all members of the Committee and they wished her well for the future.

A requirement of the establishment of a Local Health Advisory Committee is that one of the members is a medical practitioner. Hunter New England Health Service will now begin the advertising process to fill the doctor vacancy.

Local doctors interested in serving on the LHAC can contact Forster Health Service Manager Louise Saville (Ph: 6555 1800) or Forster LHAC Chairperson Karon Devenish (Ph: 6555 1318).