BRENDAN Pattison came from Melbourne to Lavington as a doctor 30 years ago, but last month was his final time seeing patients.
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Dr Pattison, 57, has retired from the Lavington Clinic in Griffith Road because of a serious medical illness.
He still owns the clinic and a new partner is in the wind.
Dr Pattison and his wife Debby moved to the area in 1985 because it was about halfway between both of their families.
“It’s a great place to live and I have always enjoyed looking after my patients,” he said.
“I am going to miss working in general practice.
“There are a lot of people sad that I am no longer working and I hope they are in a position where they find someone else to see within the practice.”
Dr Pattison’s interest in medicine was inspired by four cousins who worked as GPs.
He graduated from Monash University in 1981 and the couple decided to move to the Border in 1985, at which time he became a partner at the Lavington Clinic.
There were several partnerships over the years before he became the sole owner in 2005.
“Lavington was a remote location at the time and there was farmland around us when we started,” he said.
The couple had five children, who are now aged between 19 and 30.
“We have been married 33 years now and Debby has been a great support to me, just like my friends, co-workers and patients,” he said.
One of Dr Pattison’s favourite areas of medicine was obstetrics.
Over the years he was involved in the delivery of about 500 babies, some of whom have since become his patients over the years.
“In the early days (GPs) used to all deliver babies,” Dr Pattison said.
“We did this for about 10 years and in 1996 it stopped, which was a sad day because it was something I really enjoyed.”
Dr Pattison is looking forward to spending more time with his family during retirement.
