A doctor who has practised in Griffith since 2013 is moving on to a new stage in his life, and a grateful community has shown their appreciation through a ceremony at Tuesday's council meeting.
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Doctor Maung Win fled Myanmar due to ongoing oppression and discrimination towards Rohingya people, coming to Australia and studying medicine. He began a series of residencies around rural Australia and said that he chose to practise in Griffith as he found it to be friendlier than his other options.
"I started at the Base Hospital in 2010, and YourHealth in 2013. That was coming from Sydney, going back and forth. I made a few friends here doing residency, so I grew to really like it," Dr Win explained.
"It's a very nice place to work. Albury was a bit bigger, but Griffith was a bit friendlier."
Dr Win will be leaving to take up a job in Miranda, under the same management group. He said that he wasn't initially planning on leaving, but with his parents in ill health, he had to go and look after them.
"I've got aging parents so I'm going to go and look after them. I was planning on staying for another five or ten years, this decision was made very suddenly ... I do really appreciate my patients who have been very nice and understanding," he said.
He added that he hoped to return in the future.
"I'll probably come back to the Base Hospital later on... It's quite a mixed feeling, I'm definitely going to miss Griffith and the people at YourHealth. Everyone has been so friendly, you never feel like you're by yourself."
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As much as Doctor Win will miss Griffith, it's safe to say that Griffith will miss him equally or more. At a presentation at Tuesday's council meeting, Mayor John Dal Broi said that the town was honoured to gift him a certificate of appreciation.
"He is a very inspiring gentleman. He has endured the long hours required of his Medical services here in this community and he has taken on more roles regardless of the demands of him ... He will obviously be missed by all of Griffith and I'm particularly missed by his 'Your Health Centre family."
Rosie Harriman, the practice manager at YourHealth farewelled Doctor Win with a touching statement.
"Nothing we write or do will come close to recognising the calibre of this man. Griffith was very lucky that Dr Win chose us as part of his journey. Certainly a blessing for many of us."
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