SURGEON Kevin Chambers will be forever enshrined in Mildura’s memory.
At some point, he will likely be immortalised in a formal sense, whether by having a hospital ward or local park named in his honour.
But his memory will also live on through the age-old art of storytelling.
There are tens of thousands of people in the Mildura community — and beyond — who have a story to tell about the popular Mildura surgeon, who died last week.
They are stories rich in colour and humour, in sadness and compassion. Stories of quiet generosity and ones that touch the heart. Stories that inspire.
We have heard many of them since the shock news of his death.
But among the outpouring of grief in the thousands of social media tributes, the overarching sentiment has been one of immense gratitude from a community who he dedicated so much of his life caring for.
Mr Chambers arrived in Mildura in 1983 after completing his training at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney.
He was lured here by long-time friend Dr Terry Cook, who he had met and worked with during a medical posting in New Guinea in 1976. When Mr Chambers returned from a stint working in London, he no longer had a position at the hospital in Sydney, and Dr Cook suggested he follow his lead and move to the isolated town in the north-west of Victoria.
“So he left his family in London to come and look at Mildura for himself,” Dr Cook recalled.
“He went down to Robinvale, to Ouyen, across to Murrayville and Wentworth to visit all the GPs. He went back to England and grabbed his family and the rest, as they say, is history.
“His family arrived here on one of the hottest days ever, but they stayed. Even when he was offered the job back in Sydney two years later, he decided to stay.”
In many respects, it was a life-changing moment for the growing town.
Not only did Mildura retain the services of a brilliant surgeon, but also a man who was determined to improve the long-term health care of the community.
“We are always very thankful for how long people stay in the town, particularly in the hospital, whether they are nurses, physios or doctors,” Dr Cook said. “To get people to put in the time here is a bonus.
“But for Kevin to decide to stick it out here was incredible. All his connections were in Sydney, but he elected to commit to a lifestyle and a standard of care for this community that he felt he didn’t want to give up.”
Dr Cook described his friend as a surgeon who “could do literally anything”.
“He was as good as you get and renowned for it,” he said.
“It didn’t matter what people were brought in for, whether it be a terrible car accident or basic procedures. He was instrumental when the Cardross disaster occurred and just did wonderful things.
“But he also taught everyone else along the way and was very generous with his time in that regard. You just don’t get many people like that. He was one in a million, honestly.”
Mr Chambers’ dedication in training the next generation of doctors will go down in medical folklore, not just in Mildura, but across the country, where his reputation was well known.
In the storytelling of his life this week, registrars who had learnt under his guidance described how his kind and approachable manner made for a dynamic teaching environment, where any question was welcomed. He also introduced the “grand round” at Mildura Base Public Hospital, where surgeons would walk the wards to talk to their patients, followed by the team of junior doctors.
He was also a man not afraid to stand up for causes that he believed in.
Part of his legacy will be linked to the hospital management in Mildura reverting to public hands after a long fight.
“He was a very brave person,” Dr Cook said. “He would just do what he believed was correct for the people of the district, whatever the issue was, and was super, super-loyal.”
“He really is a hard act to follow, but hopefully the surgical team here now have taken a lot from their time with Kevin and decide to stay and not leave just because he is no longer here.”
Dr Cook said Mr Chambers’ contributions also extended to the arts community in Mildura, as well as serving on hospital boards and the Mildura Hospital Fund.
“He loved this district and made many great friends,” he said.
“There are a lot of adjectives to describe him and all of them would be true.
“He was a big man with a big heart who did a lot of good things for a lot of people.
“And he never counted favours. He just did them and moved on.”
The private funeral of Kevin Chambers will be held on Saturday at 4pm and live-streamed at McGlynn Hunt Funerals website. As a further tribute, all Mildura Base
Public Hospital staff have been invited by his family to form a guard of honour out
the front of the hospital. Mr Chambers’ hearse will do a final drive bye on Saturday at 8.45am.
In lieu of flowers, the Chambers family is seeking donations to be made to the health service in the name “Kevin Chambers fund”.
Donations can be made to: Mildura Base Public Hospital. BSB 033222, account number 017546.
