Description
Travels of the Kimberley Dental Team
When Jan and John Owen first visited Halls Creek in 2009 with the Madjitil Moorna choir, which Jan was a member of, they never could have imagined they would still be regularly visiting today. During that visit with the choir, the Halls Creek school welcomed their dental expertise, with Jan a former dental nurse and John an orthodontist, as many children were suffering dental disease and pain. This inspired Jan and John to form the Kimberley Dental Team. Fondly known as ‘KDT’, they are a group of volunteer dental professionals who have visited remote communities within the Kimberley for the last 16 years to deliver dental health education and treatment to Aboriginal children and families. Along with mascot Craig the Croc, Jan and John and their teams of volunteers have formed many great relationships across the Kimberley and seen a vast improvement in the dental health of the people who live there. This is the story of a team of dedicated volunteers who have demonstrated what can be achieved when they come together to share their skills and passion for change. It’s also the story of some of the Kimberley people they have met along the way and the crazy adventures they’ve had – after all, as Jan and John would say, ‘It’s not just about teeth.’
