A woman who is dedicated to keeping maternity care available for rural Southlanders has been recognised. Winton Maternity Centre service manager Debbie McDougall received a Southland District Council and Ōreti Community Board community award last month. The award was presented by Southland District Mayor Rob Scott. Ms McDougall said it was important rural Southlanders had access to maternity care and she would work to keep the service going while she was manager. “Closure has been threatened about four times over the years I’ve been there and we’ve managed to stay open while other units have closed around us.” “I’m keeping the only standalone, not attached to a hospital, primary maternity unit viable and open.” She was grateful for the support of the centre’s staff. The centre services an area from Kingston to Stewart Island Rakiura and all the way to Fiordland. Ms McDougall who attended Central Southland College, trained as a nurse at the Southland Polytechnic. She had never considered any other career.…