A FORMER Horsham doctor has retired after a career spanning almost four decades.
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Port Fairy-based David Leembruggen retired last week after almost two years as a doctor at Warrnambool’s South West Medical Centre.
He served as a GP in Horsham for 35 years prior to his move to the south-west.
Dr Leembruggen said his career had provided him with special memories.
“I will certainly miss the friendships, with staff and patients,” he said.
“Working as a GP people become friends as well as patients.
“You do get to see a wide range of people, there are some interesting challenges.
“Working in Horsham, I was a bit more involved with the hospital and seeing inpatients – and that is not so much the case in Warrnambool with the resources of South West Healthcare so close.”
Dr Leembruggen has plenty planned to keep him busy in retirement, with a second grandchild on the way.
He also has more walking, fishing and golfing on the agenda.
The extra time on the golf course could see him get his handicap down from 12 to single figures, which he has achieved in the past.
He will stay in touch with health care, remaining as a board member of Moyne Health Services.
Dr Leembruggen passes the baton to another Port Fairy man, Dr Cameron McPherson, to take his place.
Dr Leembruggen and his wife Denise were recognised with Wimmera Health Care Group life governor awards at the group’s annual meeting last year.
Mrs Leembruggen is a former foundation trustee. She first joined the board of trustees in 2008 and was elected deputy chairwoman in 2010.
She played a pivotal role in raising the profile of the Wimmera Health Care Group Foundation through public fundraising and in 2012, the Friends of the Foundation fundraising group was formed under her guidance.
Mrs Leembruggen also represented the foundation on the Wimmera Cancer Centre project steering committee and also the fundraising committee.
Dr Leembruggen was involved in the health care group for more than 35 years. He was a visiting general practitioner and director of postgraduate education at the hospital for most of that time.
He was also a key participant on the hospital's clinical risk management committee.
He served two terms on the board of management from 1993 to 1996 and again from 1998.
