A trio of fifth-year University of Adelaide medical students began their practical experience on the Copper Coast last week.

Alleah Maywald, Manuela Rogers and Libby Chisholm will be working between medical practices in Kadina, Moonta and Wallaroo, as well as Wallaroo Hospital, to gain invaluable rural experience during their yearlong placement through the university’s Adelaide Rural Clinical School.

Copper Coast mayor Roslyn Talbot, language specialist Tania Wanganeen and representatives of local general practices and the university attended the welcome event at Coopers Alehouse, Wallaroo.

Mayor Talbot congratulated the three students on reaching their fifth year of medical school and welcomed them to the region.

“I know it takes a lot of dedication and work, but the learning does not stop here — in your field, the learning will be forever and ever,” Mayor Talbot said.

“We are very privileged to welcome you out here into the regions.

“Hopefully you can see what a great lifestyle you can have here so, as you are plotting your futures, the regions may be in your sights.”

Alleah Maywald, who grew up on a rural property in Tasmania, said the opportunity to do her placement on the Copper Coast was amazing.

“I live on a property back home in Tasmania, which has been part of my life since I was born, so the rural lifestyle is very close to my heart and something I would really like to pursue in the future,” Ms Maywald said.

“Being able to take the opportunity to come here and have the rural teachings and support of this smaller community has been amazing from the get-go.

“I’m very grateful and very excited to be here on the Copper Coast.”

Libby Chisholm, from Adelaide, said she has always been interested in rural medicine.

“A lot of my family lives in rural and regional Victoria, so it (rural medicine) is something that I am very passionate about,” Ms Chisholm said.

“I wanted to take this year to see if I can experience and see what the rural life is like and see if it is something that might suit me later on down the track.”

Ms Chisholm also said it was lovely to be welcomed by so many community members.

Manuela Rogers, from the Adelaide Hills, said she had been looking forward to her placement on the Copper Coast since she applied for medical school.

“I have always wanted to do rural medicine, and I have been looking forward to this rural fifth year since my initial interview process for med school,” Ms Rogers said.

“It is pretty crazy to finally be here, as this is where I wanted to be.”

Ms Rogers said she had already had a fulfilling first week working on the Copper Coast.

“I have always loved the idea of GP obstetrics, and I got to witness my first birth,” she said.

“It has been so nice and welcoming, we feel really at home here already.”

This article appeared in Yorke Peninsula Country Times, 4 February 2025.