Post by NZBC on Jul 14, 2013 15:23:04 GMT 12
MEDAL RECIPIENT: Dr Jack Fraser and his wife Rosie.
A DOCTOR who has cared for, nurtured and in some
cases financially supported four generations of patients
has been recognised as a local hero. Dr Jack Fraser,
who sold his practice in Pakuranga five years ago,
has been awarded a Kiwibank Local Heroes Medal as part
of the New Zealander of the Year Awards 2011.
The humble GP says he thought the letter inviting
him to the ceremony to receive his medal was a hoax, “I
couldn’t believe it”.
The awards recognise, encourage and reward New
Zealand’s people. They honour the achievement of
individuals, organisations and community groups who
inspire through their example as mentors and role
models to the wider community.
The 78"year"old and his wife Rosie, 73, remember
starting their practice in 1964 when “Pakuranga was
paddocks filled with dairy cows and wild life – it
was like living in the pioneering days”.
As Dr Fraser’s surgery on the corner of Ti Rakau Drive
and Pakuranga Road was being built, the town centre
was under construction across the road.
“I wanted to establish a family general practice,”
he says. “I knew lots of young people were settling here,
building new houses and establishing families.
“I was looking forward to doing obstetrics – I was
kept busy welcoming babies into the world.”
Dr Fraser trained in obstetrics while working at the
National Women’s Hospital and took part in the
world’s first antenatal intrauterine exchange blood
transfusion under Sir William Liley in 1964.
However, on opening his family practice he went on
tolook after four generations.
“It was a joy and pleasure delivering babies, seeing
them grow up as toddlers,” he says. “These babies
became adults, married and I delivered a second
generation.
“These couples, when they had established their
families, brought in their grandparents so the
community grew that way. It had a more balanced
population as time went on. I had the satisfaction
of having a practice that looked after the whole family.”
In those days he offered 24/7 care, including being
on call to deliver babies, and Mrs Fraser pitched in as the
practice’s manager and nurse, often making follow"up
home visits to help out her busy husband.
“I used to visit patients who had gone to hospital,
” Dr Fraser says. “Home visits are largely gone now. We
have lost the continuous care.”
Dr and Mrs Fraser watched the arrival of “boat people”
from Vietnam. Many of the migrants and other famili
eswere unable to pay medical fees, so Dr Fraser simply
waived them. “I am a migrant myself,” he says. “I came
to New Zealand as a refugee in 1940, the oldest of
a family of six. I felt their need and could empathise with
their situation.”
Dr Fraser worked as an orderly at Wellington Hospital
to put himself through medical school. The motivati
on to do medicine came from helping his father establish a
laundry opposite the hospital.
“We waived fees for migrants who came with no jobs,
but they were industrious establishing market gardens
or bread shops.”
As Pakuranga and Howick became a hub for new
migrants from Hong Kong and South China, Dr Fraser,
in conjunction with a former classmate Dr Gam Lee,
worked to establish the Chinese Medical Association.
This continues to provide support and buddy care for Chinese medical students at Auckland Medical School.
Since the school was established in the early 1970s, Dr
Fraser has tutored and mentored many students who
came to his practice for work experience. He is also a
founding member of the East Care accident and
medical centre in Botany Downs, which was formed by
a co"operative of local doctors to provide a 24"hour
service, seven days a week. “The younger generation
didn’t want to work 24/7,” he says. “So we had a roster and I’m pleased to say East Care is one of the very few
still providing 24/7 services.”
Dr Fraser had always wanted to be a doctor or a
minister, and “wanted to be involved in caring and 12 giving work – kindness to humanity”. Aware of the
need for spiritual healing, he helped establish
Pakuranga Baptist Church and then Pakuranga Chinese
Baptist Church.
Although he retired five years ago, he keeps his ha
nd in with locum work at medical practices in Papatoetoe
and Otahuhu. But his main retirement project is
enjoying the company of his four grandchildren, aged
from two to 12.
“I teach them Cantonese, their native tongue and we
live close to the [Tamaki] river, so we go fishing.
“And we have so many pets – a menagerie of cats, a
dog and chickens. It’s like a farm here. I teach them about
the animals and we have fruit trees, so I like to pick the
fruit with them. NZCA Auckland branch newsletter May Winter 2011
A DOCTOR who has cared for, nurtured and in some
cases financially supported four generations of patients
has been recognised as a local hero. Dr Jack Fraser,
who sold his practice in Pakuranga five years ago,
has been awarded a Kiwibank Local Heroes Medal as part
of the New Zealander of the Year Awards 2011.
The humble GP says he thought the letter inviting
him to the ceremony to receive his medal was a hoax, “I
couldn’t believe it”.
The awards recognise, encourage and reward New
Zealand’s people. They honour the achievement of
individuals, organisations and community groups who
inspire through their example as mentors and role
models to the wider community.
The 78"year"old and his wife Rosie, 73, remember
starting their practice in 1964 when “Pakuranga was
paddocks filled with dairy cows and wild life – it
was like living in the pioneering days”.
As Dr Fraser’s surgery on the corner of Ti Rakau Drive
and Pakuranga Road was being built, the town centre
was under construction across the road.
“I wanted to establish a family general practice,”
he says. “I knew lots of young people were settling here,
building new houses and establishing families.
“I was looking forward to doing obstetrics – I was
kept busy welcoming babies into the world.”
Dr Fraser trained in obstetrics while working at the
National Women’s Hospital and took part in the
world’s first antenatal intrauterine exchange blood
transfusion under Sir William Liley in 1964.
However, on opening his family practice he went on
tolook after four generations.
“It was a joy and pleasure delivering babies, seeing
them grow up as toddlers,” he says. “These babies
became adults, married and I delivered a second
generation.
“These couples, when they had established their
families, brought in their grandparents so the
community grew that way. It had a more balanced
population as time went on. I had the satisfaction
of having a practice that looked after the whole family.”
In those days he offered 24/7 care, including being
on call to deliver babies, and Mrs Fraser pitched in as the
practice’s manager and nurse, often making follow"up
home visits to help out her busy husband.
“I used to visit patients who had gone to hospital,
” Dr Fraser says. “Home visits are largely gone now. We
have lost the continuous care.”
Dr and Mrs Fraser watched the arrival of “boat people”
from Vietnam. Many of the migrants and other famili
eswere unable to pay medical fees, so Dr Fraser simply
waived them. “I am a migrant myself,” he says. “I came
to New Zealand as a refugee in 1940, the oldest of
a family of six. I felt their need and could empathise with
their situation.”
Dr Fraser worked as an orderly at Wellington Hospital
to put himself through medical school. The motivati
on to do medicine came from helping his father establish a
laundry opposite the hospital.
“We waived fees for migrants who came with no jobs,
but they were industrious establishing market gardens
or bread shops.”
As Pakuranga and Howick became a hub for new
migrants from Hong Kong and South China, Dr Fraser,
in conjunction with a former classmate Dr Gam Lee,
worked to establish the Chinese Medical Association.
This continues to provide support and buddy care for Chinese medical students at Auckland Medical School.
Since the school was established in the early 1970s, Dr
Fraser has tutored and mentored many students who
came to his practice for work experience. He is also a
founding member of the East Care accident and
medical centre in Botany Downs, which was formed by
a co"operative of local doctors to provide a 24"hour
service, seven days a week. “The younger generation
didn’t want to work 24/7,” he says. “So we had a roster and I’m pleased to say East Care is one of the very few
still providing 24/7 services.”
Dr Fraser had always wanted to be a doctor or a
minister, and “wanted to be involved in caring and 12 giving work – kindness to humanity”. Aware of the
need for spiritual healing, he helped establish
Pakuranga Baptist Church and then Pakuranga Chinese
Baptist Church.
Although he retired five years ago, he keeps his ha
nd in with locum work at medical practices in Papatoetoe
and Otahuhu. But his main retirement project is
enjoying the company of his four grandchildren, aged
from two to 12.
“I teach them Cantonese, their native tongue and we
live close to the [Tamaki] river, so we go fishing.
“And we have so many pets – a menagerie of cats, a
dog and chickens. It’s like a farm here. I teach them about
the animals and we have fruit trees, so I like to pick the
fruit with them. NZCA Auckland branch newsletter May Winter 2011