The award is presented by the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACCRM) and recognises members who have ‘provided outstanding advocacy and medical service to their community to ensure the maintenance of the highest quality of generalist skills, including (or especially) procedural practice.

Dr Morris is a Fellow of ACCRM and received his honour from its president, Associate Professor Lucie Walters.

“Stephen has been practising medicine in Parkes since 1985,” she said.

“He has provided general surgical services and obstetric surgical services ever since.  

“When Dr Morris arrived in town, six doctors were delivering babies. 

“For the last seven years there have only been three and Dr Morris is the only obstetric surgeon providing the caesarean service.  

“This rarely occurs as he is rarely out of town,” the president said. 

“Indeed, it is feasible that if Dr Morris was not so readily available and obliging, the Parkes Maternity unit may not exist. 

“Dr Morris has now expanded his surgical skills to include a lot of the management of skin cancers allowing many patients to be managed locally instead of the long wait and assessment times at other centres. 

 “Stephen has also been involved with the teaching of medical students from universities and teaching Registrars on their rotations. 

“He has been involved in regular meetings with the local shire council to help develop strategies to attract medical and other health practitioners, and also assists with obstetric services for Forbes. 

“Dr Morris has been available virtually 24 hours a day, seven days a week for the past 30 years - most significantly felt in the obstetric service area.

“There would be many people in the Parkes community indebted to the timely application of Dr Morris’ gentle, tidy and very safe surgical skills and techniques,” Assoc Prof Walters concluded.