Kelly Foran was eagerly expecting the arrival of her first child when she started experiencing issues with her balance and co-ordination. While Doctor's initially believed she was succumbing to pre-eclampsia, her eventual diagnosis was even more confronting. Just weeks before she was due to give birth, Kelly was told she had a brain tumour the size of a 'goose egg'. Some two decades later, this incredible country woman is helping other regional families to navigate the obstacles of accessing city-based medical treatments, through her 'Friendly Faces, Helping Hands Foundation'. 

Kelly's Work - Board member of combined Clinical Excellence Commission and Agency for Clinical Innovation Community Advisory Committee, Board member of Clinical Excelle nce Commission Community Advisory committee, Board Member of two Local Health Districts Glen Innes and Tenterfield, Primary Healthcare Institute Executive Committee, NSW Consumer Leaders COVID Task Force, Community Consultative Committee for Justice Correctional Service, and Improving the Rural Patients Steering Committee.

Awards - Finalist for RIRDC Rural Woman NSW;  Australia Day Awards; Nomination for Australian Of The Year 2012, 2013, 2015; National Volunteers Award 2013 from Federal Government;  Regional Community Awards;  Finalist top 4 in NSW RIRDC Award; 
Nominated in Telstra Business women; Named as 1 in 100 WWIA Australian Women in Agribusiness; Narrabri Shire Citizen of the year; NSW Women of the Year;  Barwon Women of the year 2015; NSW Women of the Year Finalist Rex Airlines 2016.

*****

Thanks so much for listening to the Flying Doctor Podcast. It is lovely to have you along on the journey with us. You can find out more about Kelly Foran's foundation at Friendly Faces Helping Hands Word of mouth is always the best promotion for a podcast – so if you enjoy this podcast, or a specific story, please share with family and friends.

Reviews and ratings help our podcast to be found by others, so if you can take the time to do that it would be appreciated.  You can also send feedback, questions or comments through to podcast@rfds.org.au. 

Please join the conversation at our Facebook Group called the Flying Doctor Podcast Community 

And if you haven’t already done so – catch up on our extensive back-series as there are some ripper yarns, incredibly brave and strong people, and many-a-story that are so typically Aussie in terms of resilience, innovation in times of crisis, and of course humour.