Capital news from Jan Eriksson/Hure

Andrew,

 

I don’t know how much I mentioned in my last email/update but…..

 

I have had a very one-eyed view of the world for the past 6 years having lost the vision in my left eye to a meningioma. It missed affecting the right by just 5mm!!

 

I retired from a very busy general practice just prior to the surgery.

 

Thankfully my right eye was the good one for near vision and I have continued to embroider as well as read and record programmes at the Radio for the Print Handicapped here in Canberra.

 

I had the pleasure of being one of a team of four chosen to do the embroidery on the blanket that was sent to Kate and William as a gift for little Princess Charlotte.

 

At the radio I record a Food and Wine  programme and a Healthy Eating programme as well as co-ordinating/managing and being part of the team reading the Riverina papers that goes live to air in the Riverina on weekdays.

 

One of my great pleasures these days is running into past patients and catching up on how they and their families are going. Thankfully invariably it is good news.

 

Seeing the children I looked after as infants with families of their own is a regular treat!

 

Otherwise my husband and I work at keeping fit and healthy and hope to stay that way for many years to come!!!!

 

Say Hi to the rest of the team for me. I have great memories of times spent with many from our year.

 

Jan Eriksson/Hure

 

Terrible news about Virginia Noel ... RIP.

Dear Colleagues,

 

It is with sadness that I have to report the death of our beloved and brilliant colleague Virginia Noel (née Ewing) in July of this year.  My understanding is that she had long been suffering a painful and debilitating back complaint and she opted to travel to Switzerland with members of her family to end her life. 

 

We will always remember her enthusiasm for life at university, her amazing intellect, those early days when she and Gary Sturdy sat in the front row ... Gary, often wearing black leather with sideburns and Virginia bursting forth and smiling and challenging our professors ... and almost speaking too fast as her brain sorted principles at lightning speed. 

 

We offer condolences to her family and friends.  As in life, her death and its sorrowful circumstances challenges us all.  Virginia will be remembered and toasted at our 40th Year Reunion dinner in January where she will be sadly missed, along with our other fallen colleagues, Kathy Berthon-Jones, Cathy Campbell, Vicki Dawbarn (Degotardi), Mick Donoghue, Bevan Eastwood, Tricia Pendergast (Rohl), Jim Poulos, Mark Robertson, Cliff Sterling, Jane Talbot, Greg Trevaskis and Geoffrey Whyte. 

 

From Andrew Byrne ..

 

 

Liz Magassy writes from Wollongong ... Sept 2017

Hi Andrew,

Have enjoyed reading some of the updates – so here is my potted history.

 

Came to Wollongong as an intern – stayed in the hospital system for 4 years (no GP training in those days)

The fourth year did 6 months obstetric registrar – sat and passed DipRACOG, and 6 months casualty registrar.

Started in general practice in Figtree (Wollongong suburb) in January 1982 – since amalgamated with 2 other practices in 2005.

Currently 12 full time equivalent privately owned practice. Winding down to retirement at the end of 2019 – have sold my share and work as a contractor.

Married Robert in 1984 and started GP obstetrics the same year – delivered around a thousand babies over the next 10 years.

No children of our own – we adopt golden retrievers in need of a good home – currently Toby and Bobby – numbers 8 and 10.

Have been active in a number of areas over the years – including president of the Illawarra Medical Association, Chairman of the Illawarra Division of General Practice and Doctor Liz on ABC Illawarra since 1998.

In my eighth year on the University of Wollongong Council, Deputy Chancellor as of last month.  Also, president of the Illawarra Dog Training Club.

Looking forward to the reunion,

Regards,

Liz

 

Eddie Howe's interview in March '17 Australian Hi-Fi

 

Dinner and honours

Ingrid Rieger, Russell White (Romany below) Judy Woolley (Stokes) and Di Philpott. 

Minas Coroneo honoured for work in Greece in ophthalmology: his own postage stamp!