The Cobar Primary Health Care Centre (CPHCC) has welcomed a new practice manager, Tarun Bheemireddy, who has taken over the position from Bernie Martin.
Bernie has been the practice manager for the past 12 years and finished up in the role at the end of November last year.
She told The Cobar Weekly that she felt it was time for a change and some “down time”.
“I’ve worked with some wonderful staff and doctors over the years and really enjoyed helping people,” Bernie said.
Her plans are to spend more time with her family and, in particular her grandchildren, but insists she hasn’t retired.
Tarun, the new practice manager, is originally from India. He studied a Master of Health Science at Western Sydney University before moving to Cobar three years ago to work as a mine lab technician. He took up a voluntary position at the CPHCC two years ago “to get his foot in the door”.
“I wanted to get into the health field so I needed to grab whatever opportunity I could, even if it didn’t pay,” Tarun said.
His hard work ethic paid off and Tarun was taken on firstly on a casual basis before being employed part-time.
Tarun has praised Dr Sanjay Jamwal who, he said, took him under his wing when he first started at the centre.
“He has helped me to stay motivated and has supported me in a positive way,”
Tarun has found Cobar to be very different to where he grew up.
“It was very populated and busy whereas Cobar is very peaceful. Cobar has given me everything, my work opportunities, it’s helped me grow. I love it, the town has lots of positives.”
Tarun said he has big shoes to fill taking over from Bernie.
“I have looked up to Bernie, she is very inspirational and a wonderful person.”
