There were dual winners of the David Horn Memorial Award this year, Normanton-based Dr Christopher Appleby and Dr Patsy Bjeregaard of Cairns.

Dr Appleby has spent 20 years living in north west Queensland providing practice management expertise to general practices in the region.

He has been a director of the North West Hospital and Health Service and a director of the Western Queensland Primary Health Network since 2016. He now spends most of his time working in the Gidgee Healing clinic in Normanton.

Dr Cameron Bardsley took out the legend of the bush award after spending two decades serving as medical superintendent at St George.

Dr Bardsley is one of the longest serving medical superintendents in Queensland and only the fifth person to fill that role at St George Hospital in the last 100 years.

He was honoured for his leadership in helping to retain permanent, experienced and passionate medical staff in the region during times when it has been difficult to attract and retain staff in rural areas.

"Rural medicine is not easy, it is hard, " outgoing RDAQ president Neil Beaton said.

The RDAQ meritorious service award went to Dr Don Bowley of the Royal Flying Doctor Service in Mount Isa.

The Denis Lennox Medal - Outstanding Rural Registrar award went to Dr Ebonney Van Der Meer, who now works in Cooktown.

Tina Hamilton of Proserpine and Caroline Hennessey, Beaudesert were named joint Backbone of the Bush winners.

Several outstanding medical students and academic achievers were also given awards including: