By Tony Wright
Robert Harrison, suffering final stage cancer, had a last wish – he wanted to go for a spin in a powerful sports car. He was in rare luck.
Harrison, of Coolaroo in Melbourne’s northern suburbs, lives in palliative care at the Northern Hospital Epping.
Robert Harrison, a patient at the Northern Health Palliative Care Unit, whose last wish was a drive in a sports car. Oncologist Jaclyn Yoong helped him fulfil his dream.Credit: Eddie Jim
And Jaclyn Yoong, an associate professor in oncology and palliative care at the hospital, happens to be a sports car enthusiast.
She owns two Porsches and a Lotus Elise.
“A colleague was talking to Robert about pain management a couple of weeks ago,” Yoong said. “She rang and said Robert was coming to the hospital and he has a bucket list.”
Harrison, 46, has been an automotive mechanic since he was 16 and has spent much of his life working on, admiring and driving cars.
Yoong and Harrison in the Porsche Cayman GT4 RS.Credit: Eddie Jim
“I’ve been in a few hot rods,” he said.
“But I’ve never been in a Porsche. This is in my bucket list: I wanted to go in a quick car.”
Harrison imagined hurtling around the Sandown race circuit at Springvale, but it was a dream too far. His illness is too far advanced, and a fractured hip prevents him from walking.
“It would have been very difficult to go to Springvale,” Yoong said. “So we brought the ride to Robert.”
Harrison is helped into the car.Credit: Eddie Jim
Harrison, his physiotherapist and Yoong knew it would be tough even to lever him into a car, let alone into the seat of a Porsche a few centimetres from the ground.
But he was determined, and hospital staff wanted to help him realise at least part of his dream.
Yoong turned up on Friday with not one, but three Porsches. Along with her Cayman GT4 RS, two of her fellow car-lovers – Fabio La Marchesina of Diamond Creek, and Jon Evans of Lower Plenty – brought their Porsches, too.
Harrison surveyed the three magnificent machines and was asked which one he liked most.
Yoong with Harrison’s mother, Nella.Credit: Eddie Jim
“Which one’s the loudest?” he inquired.
It turned out to be La Marchesina’s Porsche Cayman GT4 RS. Its exhaust system produces something approaching an unearthly howl rising to a staccato series of machinegun pops.
“That’s the one,” Harrison said.
La Marchesina handed over his car to Yoong, and Harrison was helped, slowly and tenderly, into the passenger seat.
Harrison, holding his new motorbike helmet, with his father Stephen.Credit: Eddie Jim
Yoong revved the machine and set off on a circuit of the car park, the Porsche howling. Harrison clearly did not want the experience to end. The circuit turned into another.
Finally, Yoong pulled the Porsche to a stop and Harrison was helped out.
“That was exciting,” Harrison said. “I’ve been in an RS4 now.”
Yoong had an extra gift for Harrison. He is not only mad keen on cars, but he’s ridden fast motorbikes, too – Ducatis and Yamahas.
She presented him with a motorcycle helmet before he was wheeled back into the hospital, his last wish delivered.
It was, Yoong said, a privilege to share her passion with a patient in need of a lift.
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