Dr David Iser has only lived in Barwon Heads for the past four years, but it is already the place he considers home.
A general practitioner for more than 40 years, Dr Iser was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia as part of this year’s King’s Birthday Honours for service to medicine.
Dr Iser began working as a GP in South Gippsland in 1981, but he and his wife recently relocated to Barwon Heads to join his daughter and son-in-law’s Barwon Heads Family Practice.
He has since fallen in love with the town and the region.
“It’s fantastic, I feel really privileged,” Dr Iser said.
“When my daughter and son-in-law said they were setting up a practice down here I said, look, if you want me to, I’ll come down and work with you.
“They don’t really need me now, but initially I thought I could help them set it up and get going, and now they’re doing well.
“It’s a lovely village-like atmosphere, although with a lot more facilities than what I was used to in South Gippsland. I’ve got the best of both worlds.
“I’m very fortunate, I have some wonderful patients. I’ve really got to know quite a few people in the town, and it’s beautiful to have a little spot like this to work from.”
Over his career Dr Iser has taken on many extraneous roles, such as senior lecturer at the Monash School of Rural Health in South Gippsland, as a consultant on the Wind Turbine Parliamentary Committee and as coordinator of the Sandy Point Musical Events group.
He also spent two years working at remote aboriginal health facilities in Tennant Creek and Katherine, and regularly returns to work there for short stints.
Dr Iser said one of the most satisfying projects he had been part of was the health precinct in South Gippsland, which now has a hospital, aged care facility and community health centre.
He said he had “really loved” teaching medical students.
“I’m proud of that, I enjoyed it,” Dr Iser said.
“I’m still in touch with many students from the past, and in fact, many of them actually sent me congratulations (for the OAM), which is really nice.”
