Pervasive dust isn't a bother to nine new interns at Dubbo Hospital.
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The affable group of newly-graduated doctors see it as a symbol of their much-awaited return to the bush or the start of a country career.
Caring for people impacted by drought and the tyranny of distance is a priority for the five women and four men who also acknowledge the benefits of living and training in rural and regional communities.
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Justine Thomson, Georgia Cunningham, Khoa Truong, Vanessa Wan, Sachin Indrakumar, Kirbie Storrier, Jason Trounce, Trent Koessler and Jean Littlewood nodded enthusiastically on Friday when asked if they wanted to practise medicine in the bush.
"The whole reason and basis of me starting medicine and wanting to do medicine is to help people," Dr Indrakumar said.
"People out here need more help than people in metropolitan regions where they have enough access to health services.
"Over here there's more demand and need ..so that gives you extra motivation to work here."
Dr Indrakumar's words prompted a round of applause from his fellow interns who told of other reasons for coming to Dubbo.
"You get a lot more opportunity to get one-on-one contact with registrars and consultants and upskill a lot faster than metro colleagues," said Dr Koessler who also thinks there's a "lot more freedom living in the country".
"I think the connections you make with the people around you are a lot more substantial than in the city.
"I never really knew my neighbours in the city but in the country I know all my neighbours."
Dr Wan likes the quick commute to work and the "financial freedom".
"If you live in Sydney the housing prices are so high that you have a mortgage for life and don't really have much extra money to enjoy your life," she said.
Dr Cunningham, one of three of the interns to have studied previously at the University of Sydney's School of Rural Health in Dubbo, likes the way it treats doctors.
"The community is so much more welcoming and accepting, and thankful that you are here as a doctor, even though you are quite junior," she said.
Wellington-born Dr Trounce is enjoying interaction with new and old acquaintances.
"It's amazing who you run into," he said.
A former mechanical engineer, he has brought his pregnant wife and two young daughters to Dubbo, where he also previously studied at the School of Rural Health.
Dr Trounce speaks of the "great environment for learning and fantastic staff" at the hospital.
"I would love to stay on but it depends on what the hospital thinks of me and what training opportunities are available," he said.
The other eight interns originate from Brisbane, Gunnedah, Crookwell, Hong Kong, Shoalhaven, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and Wollongong.
All have graduated from Australian universities.
In their first week as interns they have undertaken mandatory training at the hospital and Royal Flying Doctor Service Dubbo Base.
Dr Wan says they are "excited and terrified at the same time".