Jamestown Medical Centre
- 1971: Medical services in Jamestown began in the home of Dr L. Verco, who provided care directly from his private residence.
- 1978: Dr Shepherd joined the practice and, like Dr Verco, initially consulted from his home. He later built a small surgery and waiting room at his property, with reception set up in his front entrance.
- 1980: Dr Verco retired, and Dr G. Tucker moved from Peterborough to continue consulting from the same residence.
- A turning point occurred when a transportable Atco building was added to the property. This space soon became a dedicated reception and administration area.
- 1991: Dr Tucker relocated to Yorketown, and plans began to formalise medical facilities in town.
Recognising the growing needs of the community, Dr Shepherd partnered with Fred Wohlfeil, previous CEO of Jamestown Hospital, to design a purpose-built health facility. With a mix of government and community funding, their vision came to life.
- 31 July 1992: The Jamestown Health Centre officially opened. The centre included consulting rooms, a treatment area, physiotherapy and podiatry rooms, space for visiting specialists, a children’s playroom, an ambulance station, and a large community meeting room.
- 1993–2006: The practice continued to grow, with the addition Dr Rowena Conway in 1993 and further renovations. In 2006, western extensions provided more office space and upgraded consulting rooms.
- 2011–2012: A GP Super Clinics grant allowed the centre to expand again—adding more consulting and examination rooms, a meeting room, kitchen, and improved patient facilities. The extension was officially opened by Mr M. Prior on 11 October 2012.
- 2014: The reception and administration areas were remodelled to better accommodate patient flow and privacy, with upgraded fittings and security.
- Dr Simon Jackson joined the practice in 2014, followed by Dr Michael MacPherson in 2020 and Dr Niall Fostyk in 2021.
Today, Jamestown Medical Centre stands as a modern rural practice, delivering comprehensive medical care while staying true to its foundations of personal, community-focused care.
Orroroo Health Centre
Healthcare in Orroroo has a long and proud tradition of community service. For many years, the Orroroo Health Centre was operated by the Yorke and Northern Local Health Network (Y&NLHN), primarily staffed by locum doctors. However, ongoing challenges in sourcing reliable locum coverage, combined with a strong community desire for more consistent and continuous care, led to a new approach.
In 2020, following a successful six-month trial period that began in 2019, Y&NLHN and Goyder’s Line Medical (GLM) established a hybrid public-private model to ensure the sustainability of GP services in the region. Under this model, GLM took over the day-to-day operations of the general practice consulting side of the Orroroo Health Centre, while Y&NLHN continued to support the facility through building maintenance, infrastructure, and collaboration with public health services.
Today, the Orroroo Health Centre remains privately operated by GLM. Located in the heart of town, the clinic provides comprehensive general practice services to Orroroo and its surrounding communities. While operating independently from the Orroroo and District Health Service (hospital), the clinic maintains a close working relationship with hospital staff to support inpatient care and emergency services. The clinic is staffed by a rotating team of GLM doctors, supported by a dedicated group of local nurses and administrative staff. GLM also welcomes visiting public and private health providers, and continues to share the facility with Y&NLHN services.
Peterborough Medical Centre
Peterborough has long been an important part of our regional healthcare network and holds a special place in the early history of Goyder’s Line Medical (GLM).
For many years, general practitioners cared for the Peterborough community through locally run private practices. Among them, Dr G. Tucker established a longstanding clinic in the town before relocating to Jamestown in 1980.
The Peterborough Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital continues to play a vital role, providing acute and emergency care to the community.
In 2003, Dr Shepherd and Dr Conway assumed responsibility for the Peterborough Medical Practice, delivering continuous service until 2025. Unfortunately, due to ongoing and critical GP workforce shortages, GLM made the difficult decision to close the practice in August 2025. This decision was not made lightly, and we acknowledge the significant impact it has on the community. While the future of local medical services remains uncertain, we have responsibly concluded our involvement and provided comprehensive handover information to local health providers to support the continuation of essential care.
To the Peterborough community, we sincerely thank you for your many years of trust and support. Although we no longer operate directly in the town, we remain committed to your care. Just a little further down the road!