Placement site information
Rochester
Rochester is located on the picturesque Campaspe River provides delightful river walks. Rochester is proud of its heritage and history dating back to 1844. There are many interesting things to see from historic buildings new homes to a variety of shops, which feature antiques, craft and gift. ‘Oppy' Museum is worth to visit where you can learn about Sir Hubert Opperman, the famous Olympic cyclist. A unique engineering achievement not to be missed is the Campaspe Syphone where the Waranga Mallee irrigation channel crosses the Campaspe River.
It is a small rural town with a population of 2624 in 5.2 square kilometres area. One in five people in this town is aged 65 years and above.
"Oppy" was born in Rochester, Victoria, in 1904. He became Australia's greatest cyclist, holding many world records during the '20s and '30s and winning the Bol d'Or and Paris Brest-Paris cycling classics. In 1994, with the help of the French Government, a statue was erected in Rochester to honour his achievements and mark his 90th birthday. The "Oppy" Museum in Moore St, Rochester, contains memorabilia of his great sporting feats and his famous Malvern Star bicycle.
Rochester is about 75 kilometres west of Shepparton and takes about an hour drive from Shepparton via Midland Hwy, Heathcote-Rochester Rd, Kyabram-Rochester Rd and Northern Hwy.
Public transport: V/Line: Melbourne - Heathcote -Rochester - Echuca - Moama –Deniliquin.
‘Oppy' on his bike.
Other links:
Rochester Victoria
http://www.rochester.org.au/?mainID=10
‘Rochester – Health Information’
Health links:
http://www.redhs.com.au/
Students are encouraged to submit photos that they have taken during their town visits for posting at this site. The photos should be of buildings of interest and the natural environment. Photos may include the student, but not others without their permission. Please email photos to Scott Middleton smid@unimelb.edu.au with a brief note on the town name.
Past student completed and suggested project ideas
Mental Health
Koori Health
Recruiting rural Physicians
Improving Diabetes care
Respiratory infection cases reported in Rochester Hospital is much higher than the state average. I would recommend future students to do a project on how to improve it.
Future students should attend the vet clinic because it was an eye opener for me.
Promoting interaction between GPs and the hospital staff
Helping patients to adapt to the transitional change of hospital rebuilding
Past students’ comments/suggestions
The schedule prepared for us was excellent. We had a bit of everything; vet clinic, pharmacy, hostel, nursing home, district nursing, GP Clinic. Di Kenyon did a great job!
Placement involved all aspects of the town, not just hospital attachment
Lots of opportunity in GP clinics for practical stuff, e.g. vaccinations, suturing, canulations
Staff is very nice and approachable! The program provided an excellent insight re rural health practice.
The organisation was fantastic. In particular staff were interested in our learning and provided many opportunities to experience rural health.