For Dr Binks surgery was a passion and there was nothing better than seeing patients recover and heal.
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John Burcham Binks, 94, passed away on July 12, surrounded by family.
Dr Binks arrived in Griffith in 1956 to take up a surgical and general medical practice in the city. He was joined by his wife June and children Roy, Ian and Helen.
A fourth child, Jenny, was born in Australia as were 11 grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
Born in Merthyr Tydfil in Wales, his parents were a doctor and nurse and from the age of eight, he knew he wanted to be a surgeon.
He completed his study at the University of Birmingham in England. It was in the operating theatre where he worked with a theatre nurse June Halliday, who later became his wife.
When they arrived in Griffith, Dr Binks spent time building his surgical practice at Griffith Base Hospital and after a few years was working sometimes seven days a week.
Dr Binks operated on many public patients for free.
"He had an immense following in Griffith, he was a kind and gentle man. He treated people equally and left a wonderful legacy," Ian said.
"He said he loved seeing people get well, get up and go back to their lives."
The impact he had on people around Griffith and the region was profound. To help ensure people didn't have to travel for the surgery they needed, he would do any type of surgery which was needed.
"You can't walk down the street without without people talking about a surgery from 40 or 50 years ago," Helen said.
Dr Binks was rarely seen not wearing a tie because he was on call and would regularly do emergency surgery for patients presenting at the emergency department.
At times he would have several surgical appointments booked in one day and after completing one operation would walk across to the next operating theatre.
"Time was very important to dad - everyone at the hospital knew that when he was on, they needed to get things done," Jenny said.
While he could be called away for surgery at any moment, when he wasn't working he made time for his family. They spent a lot of time enjoying time outside whether it was at the Murrumbidgee, sailing on Lake Wyangan or hiking in the hills.
"He and his brother were masters at fly fishing, he could catch a fish anywhere," Helen said.
"Every year we'd go up to the coast - it was the one time that the tie would come off."
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In his spare time Dr Binks enjoyed golf, but he also volunteered his time for committees including the library, for National Parks and Griffith High Schools' P&C committee.
"We always warned him to keep his jokes to himself on presentation night," Helen said.
Dr Binks retired from surgery at the mandated age of 65 in 1990 but worked as a GP until he was 78.
Long after he retired, Ian said he would surprise one of his grandsons who had become a doctor with his knowledge of human anatomy.
"His knowledge of anatomy was unparalleled," Ian said.
In 1992, for his services to medicine in Griffith, he was made a freeman of the city.
Dr Binks completed the final leg of the Commonwealth Games baton relay in 2018 as it arrived in Griffith.
Dr Binks' funeral was held in Griffith on Saturday.