While still at medical school Dr Rod Martin, and his wife Deborah attended a rural doctor conference in Queensland. There they were overwhelmed by the sense of purpose of the doctors, their advocacy for their communities and the importance of maintaining strong medical services to serve rural Australia. Since then they have lived and served in rural and regional locations, first in the small Queensland town of Theodore, and from 2007 in Armidale, New South Wales. Rod has over 20 years’ experience as a Rural Generalist clinician, is a Senior Lecturer in the UNE School of Rural Medicine, and a Member of the College Council of the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine. Deborah has over 25 years’ experience as project and programs manager in the education sector and has previously served as the President of the NSW Rural Medical Families Network.