Aspiring Cairns doctor Assan Sam remembered as Indigenous role model
A promising North Qld medical student who tragically lost his life in a motorbike crash is being remembered as a respected and inspiring role model known for being able to bridge the cultural divide.
A promising North Qld medical student who tragically lost his life in a motorbike crash is being remembered as a respected and inspiring role model who was passionate about bridging cultural divides.
Assan Sam, 29, died after his GSX-R 750 motorbike collided with an SUV on the Gillies Range Rd, about 11am on Sunday, September 28.
The James Cook University Bachelor of Medicine student, who was living in Tully with his grandmother, would travel daily to Gordonvale’s Djarragun College where he worked at the Ngak Min Health clinic.
Mr Sam had strong family ties to Palm Island and spent most of his childhood in Townsville before completing his year 11 and 12 studies at Brisbane Boys’ College.
He then returned to the state’s north and, with the support of the Cape York Partnership, completed a Bachelor of Sports and Exercise Science, before starting his degree in medicine.
Father Assan Sam senior and stepmother Tamara Sam said Mr Sam had a way with young people and they naturally gravitated toward him.
“Assan will be sadly missed as a role model, friend and bala (brother),” they said.
“He would talk with the young ones about ‘starting’, that it doesn’t matter where you start from, that you just need to ‘want it’ and commit to it.
“His strong identity with his cultural heritage and people in the community.
“As a role model for the younger generations as a person of knowledge.
“He was family oriented, taking every opportunity to nurse the babies.
“He was everybody’s big brother, favourite uncle and favourite son.
“His easy going nature and natural ability to speak to a range of different personalities made him the perfect best friend.
“He was most popular for his bear hugs. Everyone loved and respected his determination to succeed.
“Assan was loved by everyone.”
The Indigenous role model, who was part of Cape York Partnerships' leaders program, was known for being gifted both athletically and academically, chief executive Fiona Jose said.
Ms Jose said she had known Mr Sam since he was a teenager and watching him shine through school and university led to him becoming “like family”.
“Assan, a proud Bwgcolman man of Palm Island and Cape York, walked a path that reflected both courage and vision,” she said.
“His journey embodied what we hope for all our young people – that they not only achieve academically, but also bring their skills, strength and compassion back to their communities.
“He often spoke of the sacrifices his family made and of his responsibility to give back.
“He believed that education was not just for oneself, but for the community.”
About halfway through his studies, Mr Sam decided that when he graduated that he wanted to go rural, “somewhere quiet to refresh to country life”.
Ms Jose said Mr Sam was just one year away from becoming the first medical doctor to graduate from the leaders program.
“He dreamt of returning to community, perhaps as a surgeon or a GP, to combine these strengths for the benefit of his people,” Mr Jose said.
“His ability to move between English and Creole allowed him to create a welcoming environment for our people at the health centre.
“He served our students and families with humility, warmth and a genuine sense of care.
“He was a role model not just because of his academic success, but because of his generosity, his laughter and his constant encouragement of others.”
Ms Jose said Mr Sam had already inspired a younger generation of students to pursue their dreams and had mentored fellow Indigenous students.
“Assan’s life was tragically cut short, but his light will endure, he will be remembered as a son of Palm Island and Cape York, a future doctor, and above all, a young man who carried his people in his heart,” she said.
Head of the Cairns Clinical School College of Medicine and Dentistry at James Cook University, Aileen Traves, said the loss of the young med student would be felt deeply.
“Assan was in his final year of studies to become a doctor, and I had the privilege of getting to know him over the last three years in Cairns,” she said.
“He had a beautiful way of really connecting with people, and we looked forward to celebrating his graduation.
“His sudden loss is being felt by all those who supported him at JCU – in particular the staff of the College of Medicine and Dentistry, the Indigenous Education and Research Centre and his fellow students.”
Palm Island Mayor Alf Lacey said residents of the island off the coast of Townsville took pride in claiming Mr Sam as their own.
“Palm Island will surely miss him and certainly the profession he chose in terms of medicine, he was always our doctor,” he said.
The young med student’s father and stepmother said Mr Sam was born to be a doctor.
“He just wanted to help,” they said.
“Throughout Assan’s journey he has mentored tertiary and secondary students, not just one year but every year, touching many.
“Students related to his ability to navigate both worlds and the challenges he experienced, often unique to Indigenous students.
“But even more importantly he was able to share his experience of how to overcome these as a young Indigenous male.”
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Originally published as Aspiring Cairns doctor Assan Sam remembered as Indigenous role model
