For almost four decades, Dr Yvonne Cymbalist has practiced in the Wimmera - now caring for the grandchildren of those young adults she met when she first came to town.
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But as an end-of-an-era approaches, Dr Cymbalist will turn her attentions to her own family and will take on the care of her husband, Dr Alan Wolff.
Many Wimmera residents would know Dr Wolff as the director of Medical Services and the emergency department at Wimmera Health Care Group.
In 2020, Dr Wolff was diagnosed with brain cancer on February 20.
Dr Cymbalist said either the brain cancer, the radiation, surgery or chemotherapy had caused Dr Wolff to lose his independence.
She also said Dr Wolff had suffered trauma to the brain as a result of epilepsy.
"He needs someone to supervise his walking," she said.
"He's on medication now to shrink the brain swelling and at the start wasn't able to walk.
"He needs help organising his appointments and needs someone at home while he manages his day-to-day life."
Dr Cymbalist said she felt very 'lucky' after Dr Wolff's work colleagues were able to pitch in and lend a hand with those daily tasks while she continued to work.
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"Work colleagues very kindly take him for lunch on a Monday and afternoon teas that were on during Friday afternoons," she said.
"We have a lady from Community Options that takes him for a walk twice a week and our next-door neighbour provides friendly contact.
"We've got other friends that come and spend some time with him. He needs to be with people and needs to be now taken care of."
In a year that separated families, Dr Cymbalist and Dr Wolff were no different. Living in the Wimmera, the doctors' family were all based in Melbourne separated by the COVID-19 restrictions.
"Earlier this year, Alan was in intensive care and doctors were really worried that he might not have made it," she said.
"Our children are in Melbourne - we need to be in Melbourne so they can see him frequently.
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"We also have friends in Melbourne who can help out as well as my brother and his family.
"We certainly have friends here too. Alan has great admiration for his work colleagues too.
"It's been a very hard decision to pull up stumps and leave - it's more because of the children. Unfortunately, Alan doesn't have a long life ahead of him."
Dr Cymbalist started working in the Wimmera in 1984, starting a family planning clinic at Stawell, then at Wimmera Base Hospital in Horsham and undertaking locums in Dimboola under the guidance of Dr John Pickering.
She joined the Mynara Medical Centre in Horsham in 1991, then joined Wimmera Medical Centre.
Dr Cymbalist said she is planning on finishing her time at the Horsham clinic in August.
"I am passionate about what I do and it's very hard for me to give it all away," she said.
"I've looked after generations for years and it feels like I'm losing lots of families.
"I would like to thank the community for the many years of loyalty and support. Over the years so many patients have been really kind to me.
"It's hard to run a practice and care for my patients in the same way when I'm also looking after my husband. I'm sorry to not be a part of their lives anymore."
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