Despite the demands of a medical degree, this young man finds the time each year to promote the bush to fellow students. It’s his way of trying to help reduce the shortage of doctors and health workers in rural and remote Australia.

This long weekend Shannon has lined up another 100 university students to take part in the Rural Appreciation Weekend on his family’s mixed farming property.

Doctors, nurses and allied health workers of the future will get their hands dirty, mingle with Dunedoo residents at railway centenary celebrations and hear from the likes of the Royal Flying Doctor Service’s Dr Peter Brendt.

By the end of Monday a total of 400 students will have passed through the Notts’ front gate in the past four years.

“By giving students first-hand positive experiences in country Australia we can open their eyes to the lifestyle benefits of rural practice,” Shannon said.

“Hopefully, it will encourage them to seriously think about rural health careers when they graduate.”

The region is in good hands if there are a few more like Shannon Nott out there.

It is noteworthy that his efforts are supported by the rural health club at the University of NSW where he is a fifth-year medical student, and equivalent clubs at other Australian universities.

They are the core of the 9000-strong National Rural Health Students Network, of which Shannon is co-chair.