The Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) pays tribute to the life of Dr Richard Tan, OAM.
A long-standing friend of the College, Dr Tan made a lasting contribution to the community of Biloela and to the Rural Generalist profession.
To many, he was more than a doctor. He was a trusted friend and mentor, respected for his medical expertise, compassion, patience, and his ability to encourage others to see the value and satisfaction in rural medicine.
ACRRM Immediate Past President, Dr Dan Halliday, offers his reflections:
“In my experience Richard was hard working, innovative (his forays into Fish and Squab farming of particular interest), unwaveringly kind and a gentleman. He was well known for his commitment to his community and provided generous hospitality in welcoming colleagues into Biloela.
In the wake of Cyclone Marica in 2015, and on secondment to Biloela Hospital I recall performing an Emergency Caesarean Section with Richard as logistics for transport into Rockhampton was disrupted. He was a calm, unflappable clinician who had seen and experienced all that rural medicine had to throw at him. Throughout that challenging case he maintained that calm demeanour, positivity and cheeky grin.
It was always a pleasure to reconnect with Richard during events and conferences, reflecting on the progress of rural medicine.”
Local colleague and former ACRRM President Dr Bruce Chater says: “He could turn his hand to anything and was a pillar of strength in an emergency”.
ACRRM president Dr Rod Martin adds: "He was the backbone of procedural practice in Biloela. “A good teacher and a great role model, he trained and supervised a lot of the current Rural Generalists including myself”.
The College extends its condolences to his wife Dominique, children Allirah and Rohan, relatives, colleagues and friends.
A long-standing friend of the College, Dr Tan made a lasting contribution to the community of Biloela and to the Rural Generalist profession.
To many, he was more than a doctor. He was a trusted friend and mentor, respected for his medical expertise, compassion, patience, and his ability to encourage others to see the value and satisfaction in rural medicine.
ACRRM Immediate Past President, Dr Dan Halliday, offers his reflections:
“In my experience Richard was hard working, innovative (his forays into Fish and Squab farming of particular interest), unwaveringly kind and a gentleman. He was well known for his commitment to his community and provided generous hospitality in welcoming colleagues into Biloela.
In the wake of Cyclone Marica in 2015, and on secondment to Biloela Hospital I recall performing an Emergency Caesarean Section with Richard as logistics for transport into Rockhampton was disrupted. He was a calm, unflappable clinician who had seen and experienced all that rural medicine had to throw at him. Throughout that challenging case he maintained that calm demeanour, positivity and cheeky grin.
It was always a pleasure to reconnect with Richard during events and conferences, reflecting on the progress of rural medicine.”
Local colleague and former ACRRM President Dr Bruce Chater says: “He could turn his hand to anything and was a pillar of strength in an emergency”.
ACRRM president Dr Rod Martin adds: "He was the backbone of procedural practice in Biloela. “A good teacher and a great role model, he trained and supervised a lot of the current Rural Generalists including myself”.
The College extends its condolences to his wife Dominique, children Allirah and Rohan, relatives, colleagues and friends.