Wiluna general practitioner Toby McLeay will hang up his stethoscope after 25 years at the Ngangganawili Aboriginal Health Service. The beloved doctor (affectionately known as Dr Toby) has dedicated his career to Aboriginal healthcare and rural medicine and will be very much missed by colleagues and his patients.
Child and Maternal Health Community Nurse Manager and colleague Victoria Salerno said Dr Toby’s tenure at the medical centre showed his dedication to the craft. “He has been committed to his patients and the staff that have worked alongside him,” she said.
“He is always the one person who staff have been able to approach with questions and issues, and he never shirks his responsibility of imparting his wealth of knowledge onto the next generation of medical professionals in Wiluna.” “His commitment has shown us all just what a difference one person can make to a community such as Wiluna.”
According to Victoria, Dr Toby’s talent has been to develop strong doctor-patient relationships, with his strong connections enabling him to influence outcomes and behaviours. Dr Toby will also be remembered for some of his incredible initiatives including the establishment of Communicare and the introduction of “Dr Toby’s Healthy Food Choice” labels at the local store.
“His strong community connections have enabled him to implement these initiatives and are also evident in his everyday interaction with the community,” she said.
“Dr Toby has looked after three generations of one family in our remote area, and he has gained the highest level of respect from these families over the years.” “We thank him for paving the way to a better healthcare model for all remote communities, just by following his professional lead.”
Leaving behind memories of captivating travel tales, including trekking through the Flinders Ranges or enjoying croissants at a sidewalk café in Paris, Victoria said these would now become a cherished part of Dr Toby’s legacy.
And as his time in Wiluna ends, the community reflects on the better healthcare model he helped establish through his professional leadership. “Dr Toby will be missed by many and remembered by all,” she said.
“He has made a positive impact on many lives and his name, I am sure, will be whispered by many, for many years to come.”