Award honours doctor for 20 years’ service

Denmark doctor Hector Faulkner has been awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for more than 20 years of service in health care.

Dr Faulkner, pictured, is the practice principal at Denmark Medical Centre and has been working as a GP in the town since 1995, with extensive experience in rural general practice, obstetrics, anaesthetics, paediatrics, geriatrics, psychiatry and palliative care.

For the past 24 years, he has gone above and beyond to improve health services in the Denmark and Walpole communities.

For nearly a decade he has been the chairman of the Denmark Medical Advisory Committee, working to ensure major improvements in facilities and services in the Great Southern.

He was a driving force in relocating Denmark Medical Centre to bigger premises with additional services in 2014.

Dr Faulkner said he was surprised by the honour and dedicated to the Denmark medical staff.

“I wasn’t expecting to be nominated so it was a bit of surprise, I was nominated by one of the patients,” he said.

“I’m feeling very honoured. This award isn’t just about me — it’s a great honour to all the doctors in town and at the medical centre, who all work together.”

One of Dr Faulkner’s career highlights was being summoned from the surf to deliver a friend’s baby. “I was out surfing, a friend of mine came to the carpark and flashed his car lights, and I thought maybe there was a shark — turns out his wife was going into labour and I needed to deliver the baby,” he said.

“I still surf with that baby I delivered.”

Denmark Medical Centre practice manager Mary Olden congratulated Dr Faulkner on a “well-deserved honour”.

“I have had the absolute pleasure of working with Hector since shortly after he arrived in Denmark, his knowledge, passion and unconventional character make him a true asset to the local community,” she said.