Our Board

Margo Purcell – Acting Chair
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.

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.

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

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.