Jessica Weekes
"I am in my third year of a six year undergraduate Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery at James Cook University. I always wanted to be a vet. …. Everyone would be at the farm when we slaughtered meat. Whilst all my cousins would be off riding motorbikes or inside, I would drag my younger cousin Katrina along and go through the intestines of the cow or sheep, we were all of about 7 or 8 when we started. …. By Year 11, I was leaning a little bit more towards medicine than being a vet.
I did work experience with the vets in Yass and had an unbelievable time, so I left with one question for a particular vet, ‘Should I be a doctor or vet?’, they replied, ‘If you want a life be a doctor’. On my obstetrics and gynecology placement I listened to my obstetrician constantly telling me that he should have been a vet because they were better hours and you got paid more.
By year 12 I had decided to be a doctor and haven’t looked back once. In the future I think there is always a tendancy to move back to a place close to home, so I would not mind going to Orange to do my internship. Orange [has] a huge base hospital, it has cardiac surgeons, because I really like cardiology, it has all your major specialists …. I’m still very rural. I am not going to be a GP …. if I do become a GP it will have to be a remote GP as I like to do everything myself …. I like cutting things up …. my brother is a butcher so we are almost the same, I will be a surgeon, he’s a butcher …. maybe I will have a few more personal skills and I do not end up with a dead patient. …. It’s good that you just reminded me that this is all getting taped.
In two weeks time I have arranged for 30 Year 11 students from North West Queensland to come and have a week at the uni exposing them to the roles of different health professionals. I took this role on as I am very passionate about promoting health careers, particularly medicine to school aged children from rural areas, as I believe whilst the ability is certainly there, often the means is not."
Jessica was awarded a Community Scholarship by the Yass District Education Foundation using funds made available from the Glenlothian Trust which is administered by the Rotary Club of Yass. One of the aims of the Glenlothian Trust is to support students undertaking studies that will lead them to a career in rural Australia.
"I support myself completely …. my text books cost me over $1000 every year. [My Community Scholarship from] the Yass District Education Foundation pays for that, …. [and] a diagnostic set …. it includes my otoscope, for looking into people’s eyes, ears and mouth. It’s something that you are just expected to get as a student but it is also something that is quite expensive.
Everyone has potential and everyone has dreams, there are multiple reasons that people don’t realise these dreams, and unfortunately money is a significant factor. The Yass District Education Foundation plays a significant role in assisting me with the costs of necessities of going to university."
Jessica Weekes is studying Rural Health at James Cook University’s Faculty of Medicine, Health and Molecular Sciences.
"A big part of getting it [the Community Scholarship] is someone saying you are doing a good job, keep going …. We are proud of you and you are making a difference. …. You are also letting the family realise their dreams. My Mum and Dad never considered that this [going to university] was even conceivable.
In giving to me I also give back to the community, so in Yass anyone who wants to do Med or something like that, I will go and have a chat to them. …. I know I will reinvest money back into the Yass District Education Foundation once I am able to, once I am a doctor and working.
It is also nice that it [the Community Scholarship] also gives you a bit of recognition from your town, it’s a good encouragement thing. It makes you really try and it makes sure that you succeed in what you are doing."
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