TRANSCRIPT: UNSW MEDICAL SCHOOL WAGGA WAGGA TOPPING OUT CEREMONY ROOFTOP SPEECH, 15 APRIL 2024

E&OE 

STARTS: 11:11am

MICHAEL McCORMACK:

This is the culmination of so many years, not just months, but years of work. Each and every one of you is here to see this special occasion because you've had input towards it, you’ve had a contribution to make. And if this just provides one doctor who is going to stay in the bush, having trained from start to finish in a country setting, in Wagga Wagga, then our mission has been achieved. But it is going to achieve much more than that, but only because of each and every individual here. So, thank you for whatever you've done, however large or small. Thank you to the contractors too because it's important they be recognized; because not only is this a project for medicine and for better rural health services, but it’s also creating jobs both in the construction and, of course, going forward. And not just jobs in health, but jobs in maintenance, jobs in making sure that this place runs smoothly. So, to each and every one of you, I say thank you, to UNSW in particular, my heart goes out to you. Thank you so very much. Let's not forget the Rural Medical School Implementation Committee. Gerard Caroll, is Gerard here? No, he’s saving people’s lives. To Gerard and the team, they never lost sight of the vision, they always had this in mind and this is as much of their work as it is anyone's. Yes, I got the funding, yes I was a bit of a prat with the then Prime Minister of the time to ensure that we did get this funding. But it wasn't just for Wagga Wagga; it was for Dubbo, for Mildura, for Shepparton, for Orange. This network, this Murray-Darling Network stretches right through New South Wales and Victoria and this, today, is a culmination of so much good work, so much endeavour and so much of your input. So, to each and every one of you, thank you. This is a great day.

ENDS: 11:13am