But he will return to university this year, studying for a LaTrobe University PhD through a Rural Northwest Health initiative.

Rural Northwest Health, Heathcote Health and Rochester and Elmore District Health are working with LaTrobe to run community-based health projects.

Through the projects, people from each region will work to identify what is needed to improve community health.

Mr Aitken said he would set up a community resource action group that included a broad cross-section of people.

"This group will provide details on what health services they believe are required for this area as well as their opinion on how each service operates now," he said.

"Rural Northwest Health already has a reputation for providing 'best practice' methods in several services and I'm sure they would like to add to that list.

"I also plan to talk to schools about their health requirements. It's going to get very busy."

Mr Aitken said he and his wife Marie a member of the Rural Northwest Health board had lived and worked in Warracknabeal for 25 years.

He said rural people often missed out on benefits enjoyed by city people.

"That's not necessarily because of the services provided here but rather the information they get, such as information on diseases and lifestyle," he said.

"Also rural people might have to travel a significant distance for a health check whereas city people only have to go around the corner.

"Rural people tend to consider themselves a little more stoic and not so much in need of health checks so I think they have to be a little more proactive in this area."

Mr Aitken said he looked forward to formal study.

He said he would spend more time at the health service to focus on the work involved.

"In some ways I've never stopped studying because it's my job to keep up with new products and methods," he said.

"I will have to be disciplined about it."

Rural Northwest Health chief executive Catherine Morley said Mr Aitken's strong sense of community made him the obvious choice for the study.

"John has always shown pride and interest in his community and involves himself in many activities," she said.

"He was simply the right choice."

LaTrobe University's Professor Jane Farmer, who works alongside Rural Northwest Health, has been heavily involved in the project development.

She described the project as ground-breaking.

"Communities are asked their opinion and then researchers go away and develop solutions that often don't meet community needs," she said.

"This project is driven by the community. Community members will work together over 12 to 18 months to discuss, develop and test great ideas."