Wellbeing Superspreader: “The Scientist”

DYNAMO woman, Catherine ‘Chook’ Chicken is Scone’s newest Wellbeing Superspreader, ready to infect the town with positive wellbeing on February 1.

The Where There’s A Will (WTAW) Foundation has recruited ten hand-picked Sconeites, which will all work closely with an official Wellbeing Coach and will be readily available to anyone in the community who may be struggling with mental health or who want to know more about positive wellbeing mechanisms.

Fellow Sconeites will be asked to monitor their friends, family and work colleagues for symptoms such as greater happiness, improved physical health, better relationships less stress and improves coping within workplaces.

Catherine, also known as “The Scientist,” is one of the most respected authorities in Australia when it comes to foal care and foal wellbeing.

Her PhD focused on the epidemiology of a bacterial infection in foals (commonly known as ‘Rattles’) and she continues to work as a consultant vet out of the Scone Equine Hospital Lab during the foaling season.

Catherine ‘Chook’ Chicken, aka “The Scientist” Wellbeing Superspreader for WTAW. Photo supplied by WTAW.

She has a great passion for the environment, is a member of the Upper Hunter Air Quality Advisory Committee and is dedicated to seeing a sustainable future for all community members of our region.

Catherine is also an avid reader, meeting monthly with a big group of women for book club and recently joining the Scone Literary Festival Committee.

Her husband, Cameron Collins, is also a vet and current President of the Hunter Thoroughbred Breeders Association.  

Their children, Lily and Marcus, are now away at University and are all partial to a ski on the glassy waters of Glenbawn when time and weather permits. 

Locals are asked to follow the Superspreader social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram to see regular updates showcasing steps Catherine and the other Superspreaders are taking to achieve wellbeing in Scone.

The pilot project is funded by the Hunter New England Primary Health Network and if Scone proves successful, WTAW hopes the outbreak will spread to other towns across the Upper Hunter and beyond, with a goal of achieving widespread wellbeing and good mental health.  

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s announcement on who “The Cowboy” is!

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