Better Border Health - Albury Wodonga and region

11/11/2025

Dr Eric Moyle has dedicated decades to caring for our community through his work as an intensive care doctor at Albury Wodonga Health. In 2021, he was named Albury’s Citizen of the Year, a reflection of his commitment and compassion.

When he sees a need, he acts, from helping design ventilators during the pandemic so AWH could treat more patients to regularly making personal donations of much needed equipment to the hospital including two life saving ROTEM machines - so patients at both campuses could receive the same high level of care to list but a couple.

A true community champion who does not seek notoriety for his contribution. So when Dr Moyle speaks up, we should listen.


This Is his letter to the editor published in yesterday’s Border Mail 👇👏

Best deal for the region the priority

I would like to reply to some of the points raised by anonymous person on November 6 about Albury Wodonga Health.

Will surgical services continue with the sacking of Dr Stuchberry? Probably

Will his sacking leave a significant gap in our region’s ability to deliver the best health care possible? Definitely

Should clinicians be involved in the employment of other clinicians? Yes. Clinicians should be employed to provide high-quality clinical care, and this should be assessed by people who can judge that care.

Should clinicians pressure leadership? Yes. Clinicians want the best care for their patients and should be able to advocate for that care.

Do clinicians only want a $2 billion greenfield site? No. Clinicians want the best facility for the care of their community. The current plan will not achieve this.

It is up to the administration of the hospital to get the correct decisions for all of us. If they can’t, then the people will lose confidence in the administration’s ability to lead health care for its community.

Eric Moyle, Albury

10/11/2025

Snippets from Border Mail article, “‘The last communication': hospital not ready to talk after surgeon sacking”, by Chelsea Wilson, published on 10 November 2025 at 6 pm.

‘Cancer surgeon John Stuchbery said he has not received any communication from Albury Wodonga Health’s board or executive team in relation to his termination.

The last contact Dr Stuchbery had with a representative of the public hospital, other than through lawyers, was on Thursday, September 4, 2025.

He met with two AWH executives and was accompanied by an Australian Medical Association support person.

“They wanted to talk to me about handing over my waiting list in an organised manner and to put out a communication that wouldn’t disrespect me,” Dr Stuchbery said.

“We put on the table the option for them to go ahead with the termination as a VMO [visiting medical officer], but take me on as a staff specialist.

“In about 24 hours, they said no, so that’s the last communication.”

“That fourth of September meeting, that’s the last time I’ve had any meeting with Albury Wodonga Health,” he said.

AWH can legally terminate the contract of a VMO without written cause.

Despite there being no written cause, Dr Stuchbery said he had defended himself to the board against “four charges” that he believes were the reasons behind his dismissal.

“I went to the board and defended those four charges, two charges of swearing in a meeting, one email and one for my tone of voice,” Dr Stuchbery told The Border Mail.

“I had eight really good letters of support, and in regard to the swearing, I couldn’t really defend that, so I apologised for it.”

The fourth allegation referred to Dr Stuchbery criticising an AWH executive during a meeting of senior clinicians.

“So I’m being sacked for the tone of my voice,” he said.

“Is that a reason to sack a surgeon, because of his tone?”’

'Is that a reason to sack a surgeon, because of his tone?'

09/11/2025

AWH Chief Executive Officer Bill Appleby said “understanding and acting on consumer and community feedback is central to improving care across the health service”.

“Understanding the patient experience allows us to continually strengthen the care we provide”, Mr Appleby said. “By engaging more directly with our community, we can focus on making meaningful improvements that make a real difference.”

It is possible that Mr Appleby has missed some of the community feedback that our community has been trying to share with him.

Here is an opportunity to reply to his call out.

This feedback platform is for patients, so please reply to this link, particularly if your experience has not been optimal.

Friends and relatives are also very important advocates, so please add your comments.

We could all be potential patients at anytime too.

Respect for our hard-working staff in very difficult circumstances is requested at all times.

We don’t walk in the shoes of staff or fully understand the demands they’re working under.

But what we do know is that your patient experience and perspective matters.

We’re proud to launch Your Say AWH, Albury Wodonga Health’s new online community engagement platform!

Your Say AWH is a one-stop hub where you can:
✅Share feedback about your patient experience
✅Learn about local health projects and initiatives
✅Take part in surveys and polls
✅Share your ideas

Register today, and get involved at yoursayawh.org.au
Read more here 👉 https://bit.ly/43kOVAf

09/11/2025

Thank you to everyone (266) who signed our NEW HOSPITAL ON A NEW SITE petition today at the Sunshine Walk. Many asked about Dr John Stuchbery’s petition.

Dr Stuchbery’s petition currently sits on 7140. If you’ve not signed it, here’s your opportunity.

https://www.change.org/p/reinstate-clinical-privileges-for-dr-john-stuchbery

Reinstate clinical privileges for Dr John Stuchbery

09/11/2025

Thanks to the 266 people who signed our petition today calling for a new greenfield site public hospital for Albury-Wodonga and the surrounding region.

We believe that the existing Albury and Wodonga public hospitals are at breaking point and that a new hospital is vital to the wellbeing of everyone who lives in Albury-Wodonga and our wider region.

Thanks also to the supporters of various local groups who donated their time again to speak with members of the community in their determination to see a new single site regional public hospital with sufficient beds for patients to address the ongoing daily deficit of beds.

It is time for the Federal, NSW and Victorian Governments to listen to the voices of our community!

If you haven’t yet signed this petition, please sign online here:
https://kricgpm9.forms.app/build-a-new-greenfield-hospitalaw

If you would like to join the next peaceful gathering of greenfield hospital supporters, please keep Sunday 30 November free - for details, email communitylensaw@gmail.com

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQ0bU82D7B_/?igsh=a3EwZTltNHc1MGE3

09/11/2025

The community corfluters spotted this morning at Noreuil Park.

The next generation riding towards their future. And what are we doing to provide for their healthcare needs?

Please sign our petition if you’re in favour of a new greenfield site public hospital for Albury Wodonga and surrounds:
https://kricgpm9.forms.app/build-a-new-greenfield-hospitalaw

08/11/2025

From the Border Mail Editor's Desk

Sunday November 9, 2025

If there has ever been a time for not giving lip service to transparency, now is that moment.

That is a reasonable conclusion that anyone would be able to draw regarding the goings-on at Albury Wodonga Health.

And yet transparency is not what it wants, and so, like a pouting small child throwing a tantrum, it's not interested in what anyone else has to think or say.

That's the most obvious conclusion to be drawn from the public health service's decision to hold its annual meeting effectively behind closed doors.

No, the organisation would probably protest, allowing the public to take part online means that's most certainly not the case.

Online, it'd argue, means anyone, anywhere can do so.

However, there's a glaring omission from that argument - accountability.

Specifically, such accountability takes the form of the hospital board being aware of the sentiment of those most affected by their decisions - the wider Border community.

But if no one is there, how can that occur?

To justify itself, as AWH chief executive Bill Appleby and chair Jonathan Green did [by way of a "statement", mind you], with the comment of online meetings being a "common practice across Victorian health services" is not good enough.

And it's not the point. Following others when a far better option is available is not acceptable.

Given continuing issues related to the highly contentious hospital redevelopment, the secrecy involved in changing the management of the cancer centre and the unacceptable sacking of surgeon John Stuchbery, ordinary people should have the right to question the board about what it does.

As Better Border Health director Stan Stavros quite rightly points out, the online meeting decision reflects poorly on AWH management.

"It's a public hospital, the public own it, so we should have a right to be asking questions and getting answers from the chief executive and the chair," he says.

That perfectly sums up why this is such a bad decision, one that hinders and in no way helps the future of public health on the Border. But sadly, it's also no surprise.

Thanks for reading. I hope you have a superb Sunday.

Beau Greenway, The Border Mail, acting editor

07/11/2025

Web words, The Border Mail, 7 November 2025: ‘It’s just heartbreaking’: sacked surgeon’s last day in public system

‘You should hold your head high for the service you have given to those suffering in their worst times.’

Mellissa Bradbury

‘You are an amazing doctor who doesn’t deserve this. l just pray they see common sense and this is rectified and they get their marching orders.’

Pamela Kiffen

‘I am a private patient, and what he has done for me, I know he is an excellent doctor. It looks like he treats his public patients just as well. God bless you, and I hope everything will work out for you.’

Helen Goldsworthy

‘John, I am just devastated by the whole situation. Please know that so many of us in the community support you.’

Barbara Tasker

‘Dr Stuchbery, thank you for all you did in your time there. As a nurse, I thank you for always being a doctor I wasn’t scared to call.’

Mary MacGregor

‘As a public patient, I am grateful and appreciate your expertise and care, Dr Stuchbury, this year. Seeing you has put my mind at ease. So very grateful for your time.’

Karyn Edwards

‘Hopefully, this will be overturned. The people of Albury-Wodonga deserve great surgeons such as yourself.’

Perry Rell

‘I cannot believe that common sense has not prevailed. What a very sad outcome for regional health needs. Thank you, Dr Stutchbury, for your service.’

Mary Macqueen

Join those above in commenting on the Border Mail page or on the app

07/11/2025

Please sign and share our online petition to reinstate clinical privileges for Dr John Stuchbery here:

https://www.change.org/p/reinstate-clinical-privileges-for-dr-john-stuchbery

We are close to 7,000! 👏🙏

Reinstate clinical privileges for Dr John Stuchbery

07/11/2025

Email addresses for politicians that need to hear our voices.