:: Coming Home - Danielle Keoller

I grew up in this area and moved away not really intending to come back and live here. I was working in the Oncology Unit at Bendigo Hospital in Victoria but a year ago I moved here and took up a position as a Dietitian at Coffs Harbour Health Campus. Why did I make the move? Last year I got married and when we started thinking that one day we will raise a family my thoughts flew back to the place where I had a happy childhood. Also Victoria is very cold in the winter; while I would be rugged up going off to work in Bendigo, people up here would be walking round in T shirts enjoying the winter sun on the beach. The final factor in the decision to move was that I missed the sea; Bendigo is an inland town and I missed the wonderful rivers and beaches around Coffs Harbour. So my husband and I moved here last year and we love it.

Coffs Harbour Hospital is a really friendly and inclusive place to work. Bendigo was a big hospital and you really only knew your own team members. Coffs is small enough that you get to know everyone in the hospital.

When I’m not working I love to go camping and fishing and this area is full of fantastic places for both activities. I loved doing those things as child with my family and I think this is the perfect place to bring up children. There is so much to do here for families. I also enjoy cycling and Coffs Harbour has excellent bike tracks, and many of my workmates cycle to work.

I find this to be a very exciting time because I am here at the beginning of setting up a new service. All of the people involved with the new Cancer Institute are passionate about the work and I feel part of something special.