Tamworth Discount Drug Store pharmacist and business owner, Lia Mahony was recently awarded the coveted Noel Park Award, for her contribution to the growth of her local area.

Lia’s dedication to health services throughout her career made her a richly deserving recipient of the award named after late politician, Noel Park, Member for Tamworth between 1973 – 1991. And while she concedes she was shocked to have won; she admits to being very humbled by the recognition.

“The award is usually given to someone at the end of their career,” Lia said. “I’m a long way from retiring, so the award was definitely not on my radar at all!” The pharmacy calling was there from an early age with a pharmacist father, the recently retired Patrick, with whom she’s also co-owned pharmacies. “I always knew that I wanted a job in healthcare and I also really wanted to stay in a regional or rural area,” she said. “So, it was a great fit.”

Improving Healthcare in the Community

Lia’s career has been as varied as it is long. She’s a business owner, a mentor, and an advocate for promoting positive healthcare in the community, and improving health literacy, something that is a key focus.

“Access to affordable and engaged healthcare is fundamental to improving healthcare in the community,” Lia said. “Fly in fly out staff with a rotating roster of faces leads to a disengaged patient, reducing long-term outcomes. Making access available in regional and rural communities for the most vulnerable people is vital.”

Despite common misconceptions, pharmacists offer many services with dispensing just a small part of their clinical responsibilities. At Tamworth Discount Drug Store, they offer vaccinations, home medicines reviews, wound care, and chronic disease state management, to name a few. As a qualified ‘Deadly Pharmacist’, Lia has also completed her certification for providing culturally appropriate pharmaceutical care to Aboriginal patients.

Lia has been fortunate to work all over NSW including in many rural and remote communities, thanks to her pharmacy career, but one of her proudest accomplishments has come from guiding and mentoring her team.

“I think my proudest achievement is that 12 people who have worked for me have gone on to study pharmacy. Some who still work for me. Some who still work in the region. Some who are just starting their university career,” she said. “If I can do a good job, build a good career and that inspires others into the profession, then that’s a job I’m proud of. I also have second and now third generations of the same family work for me. This shows me I have created a good working environment … which is so important to me.”

Admittedly a private person, Lia likes flying under the radar to help the community she lives in achieve positive outcomes. “I feel making a difference comes from many small everyday actions rather than one big bang,” she said. “That’s my aim. Never see a need without doing something about it. That’s what I will continue to do.”

And when asked what’s next for her? “I believe the world is changed by people who turn up. So, I will turn up every day. I believe pharmacy is a great way to be accessible and to make a difference.”

Congratulations, Lia on your award and an incredible career to date.

Some of Lia’s career achievements

• Tamworth Business Chamber Board in 2010-2016, including time as Vice-President and Chamber President
• Board Member, McLean Care
• Past recipient New England Northwest Zonta Businesswoman of the Year award
• Inaugural Chair of the HealthWISE New England Northwest Board

The Noel Park Award is a part of the Quality Business Awards and 2024 is its 40th year.

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