From delivering babies to being at the bedside of the dying, Dr Dixon has been there for his patients

FOR Dr David Dixon, leaving his practice after four decades, proved more than a tad emotional. The 76-year-old family doctor has looked after and cared for thousands of residents, including generations of the same family from his clinic in Riverstone.

Doctor David Dixon's last day at his Riverstone practice. Pictures: Peter Kelly

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FOR Dr David Dixon, leaving his practice after four decades, proved more than a tad emotional.

The 76-year-old family doctor has looked after and cared for thousands of residents, including generations of the same family from his clinic at Garfield Rd, Riverstone.

However, last Wednesday, September 14, Dr Dixon decided it was time to pack up his stethoscope and medical bag and take in more cruises and classical music concerts.

To many he was more than a doctor — he was their confidant, mentor and someone they could relate to. He helped deliver dozens of babies, helped people with depression and has sat by the bedside of dying patients.

Dr David Dixon's last day at his Riverstone practice, with Dr Carolyn Longworth, Leanne Mitchell, Janette Cobcroft and Leanne Henderson.

In return he received lots of love in addition to paintings by children, bottles of chutney made by grateful patients plus hot meals.

It was, however, by sheer coincidence that the former backpacker — he went through India, Pakistan, Afghanistan en route to Europe after graduating as a doctor — ended up as Riverstone.

“I had returned from my year of backpacking and was sitting in my uncle’s veranda in Newcastle when this person, Dr George Penhall, was passing by and asked me if I was interested in a job.

Dr David Dixon left his practice with some regrets.

“I said yes and that’s how I ended up in Riverstone and I could haven’t wished for better people.

“I love the place and the people are wonderful and I will definitely miss them.

“But there comes a time when you have to move on and the daily commute from Potts Points was getting harder for me.”

“To me being a GP is the best profession though nowadays it is not the same with so much paper work etc.”

Dr Dixon, who lived in Cherrybrook for many years, began his medical profession as a pharmacist because his parents could not afford to pay for his studies at medical college.

Patients said they will miss the respected doctor.

“I don’t regret doing the six-year pharmacy course as it did help me make the cream in the good old days in the clinic,” said Dr Dixon, who enjoys regular cruises on QE II and Queen Mary.

The piano-playing doctor also loves his classical music, in particular Rachmaninoff, and plans to take in more concerts in his retirement.

For many patients it will be the end of an era with one of his long-term patients Carroline Parkes saying Dr Dixon will be hard to replace.

“It’s the old fashioned skills of medicine, of caring, of doing what he can, and he will be sorely missed,” Ms Parkes said.

Dr Carolyn Longworth, Leanne Mitchell, Janette Cobcroft, Leanne Henderson and Dr David Dixon in front of his clinic.

“My older brother Neville and I have been under Dr Dixon’s care for well over 20 years and (before that), my grandfather, father and other family members

Dr Dixon has always been there to answer the hard questions and has been a friend as well.

Carroline Parkes said Dr Dixon has been wonderful to her family.

“It has been an absolute joy to share his laughter and banter and I thank him for helping to wipe my tears.

“I hope that all the joy, the peace, the warmth and the hope and goodness is returned to him a hundred fold.”

Dr Carolyn Longworth, who has been practising there for more than 20 years, will keep the clinic going, along with her staff, Leanne Mitchell, Janelle Cobcroft and Leanne Henderson.