Our Board

Dr John Evans – President
MBBS, DRANZCOG (ADV) and FACRRM

Dr John Evans trained at the University of Queensland, The Royal Brisbane Hospital, Brisbane & Barnet Hospital, London before moving to Emerald as a rural procedural GP in Obstetrics in 1981. He has served on Qld Health’s Obstetric Advisory Panel, the JCCO of ACRRM, RACGP & RANZCOG and has presented the ‘Obstetric and Perinatal Report for Rural Queensland’ at the RDAQ Conferences since 1991. Dr Evans was the Inaugural Chair, then board member of RRQC/QRME, a former, GP Registrar Training Consortium and has been a board member of CQRDGP/CQRH since is inception. He holds a Meritorious Service Award from RDAQ and is a Paul Harris Fellow. He enjoys maritime history, cycling and genealogy. Having been brought up in Armidale, NSW, attending TAS and then working in rural Qld for 38 years, Dr Evans and CQRH are committed to enhancing and supporting the broad scope of rural healthcare.

Jessica Burrey
Bachelor of Pharmacy/ Graduate Certificate in Business

Jessica is a registered Pharmacist and Community Pharmacy owner with over 15 years in the industry. With a Bachelor of Pharmacy and Graduate Certificate in Business, Jessica is an experienced business operator and industry leader in the delivery of innovative pharmacy services, community engagement and pharmacy business operations. Committed to the improvement of rural health outcomes, collaborative health services and the education and empowerment of health professionals, Jessica is a member of the CQ Clinical Council for the Sunshine Coast, Wide Bay and Central Qld PHN and member of the CQ PHN Mental Health and Other Drugs Strategic Collaborative.

Margo Purcell
Solicitor, MELG Law

Margo is a Lawyer residing in Emerald and practicing full time in the Central Highlands region since 1998 predominately in the areas of Commercial law, estates and property law with a particular interest in Resource Law and Succession matters. Margo holds a Masters in Environmental Law & Local Government (Macquarie Uni NSW 1998) and is a member of the Queensland Law Society and the Central District Law Association. Margo is also involved in the Anglican Church in Central Queensland and was appointed Chancellor for the Diocese of Rockhampton in 2013 having previously held the role of Deputy Chancellor for the Diocese from 2006 until that appointment. Having grown up in regional Queensland Margo is aware of the importance of services for those who work and reside in rural and remote Queensland and is committed to maintaining services and representation for the communities in those areas.

Dr Michael Belonogoff
Bachelor of Medicine/ Bachelor of Surgery

Dr Michael Belonogoff has been a rural general medical practitioner in Emerald Qld since 1981. He graduated with M.B, B.S. from University of Queensland Medical school on 12/12/1977 and also obtained a DRANZCOG on 11/07/1987, and has been a Fellow of ACRRM since it commenced in March 1997. Initially, Dr Belonogoff was the full time Medical Superintendent at Emerald Hospital from January 1981 to January 1986. Following that term, he commenced a rural private practice and built a new clinic to practice from. Dr Belonogoff has helped various doctors and many medical students to experience rural medical over the years

Natalie Dunk-Andrews
Bachelor of Nursing/ Diabetic Educator

Natalie has had a myriad of roles since she moved to Theodore from the Darling Downs over 10 years ago. Nat worked as a Registered Nurse in Toowoomba in Renal Dialysis, Aged Care, Graduate Program and as a Diabetes Educator. Natalie completed her nursing degree in 2004 and her Graduate Diploma in health sciences in 2006.
Upon moving to Theodore Nat started work at Theodore Medical Centre as a practice nurse and at the same time a Diabetes Educator for CQRDGP. Over the years to follow Natalie continued to work for Theodore Medical and the Division. At Theodore Medical Nat developed the community nursing and indigenous health team, focusing on chronic disease management – which has now developed into the Health Improvement Team. Over her time with the Division Nat worked as an outreach diabetes educator, allied health team leader, practice support officer (later this continued with the PHN) and closing the gap team leader.
Through an Indigenous AAPM scholarship Nat will complete her Diploma in Practice Management this year. Natalie brings experience as a practice manager to the board and her strong community links within the Banana Shire will strengthen community engagement.

Dr Richard Tan
MBBS (Q) DRANZCOG FACRRM

Richard Tan emigrated from Malaysia & completed his senior studies at Ipswich Grammar School before studying medicine at the University of Queensland. He has been a general practitioner in Biloela since 1968, when he opened his own practice. This practice was closed in 2011 when Biloela Medical Centre was established and in 2013 he was awarded an OAM for his 46 years medical service to the Biloela community. In 2017 Richard received the Legend of the Bush award from the Rural Doctors Association of Queensland for his outstanding service. Dr Tan has also received recognition in the form of a Paul Harris Fellow by the Rotary Association. After Fifty years of service to the Biloela Community, Dr Tan has now retired from the VMO position at the hospital. However, he still continues to work in general practice.

Wendy Peebles
CA, MMGT (Bus Law) BBUS (Acc) JP (Qual)

Wendy has a professional Accounting and Management career spanning 30 years and moved to the Monto region in early 2018 after spending nearly 4 years working and travelling Australia. Wendy is a Chartered Accountant, registered BAS Agent, qualified JP and holds degrees and post graduate studies in accounting, business, management and commercial law and has undertaken the AICD International Company Directors Diploma. Wendy was previously the Queensland Finance Manager for Lend Lease Retirement Living, a former Director of Business & Finance with the Australian Agricultural College Corporation, has worked in the Northern Territory, Queensland, Tasmania and in regional and remote locations and has been a non- executive Director of both Wide Bay Water Corporation and Queensland Aged & Disability Association Inc. Wendy currently provides finance and corporate project services in a remote based capacity to Oak Possability, a large not for profit disability service provider based in Tasmania and Victoria.

Zak Nichols
Bachelor of Health Science (Physiotherapy)

Zak is a registered physiotherapist currently also completing his final year in a Masters of Clinical Practice. He has ten years of experience in private practice physiotherapy and is currently a clinic manager and lead physiotherapist based in Emerald, Central Queensland, where he has been for the last four years. Zak is passionate about the delivery of modern health services in regional areas, and collaborative approaches amongst health professionals and the wider community to improve health outcomes. Zak is involved in the local community, most notably through involvement with local rugby union.