HEALTH & LIFE’S – A SPECIAL TRIBUTE CURRENT CIRCULATION: DATE: ISSUE NO:
7027 8th October 2007 149
Welcome to Health & Life’s free email newsletter service. Tell a friend that we would be happy to add their email address to the distribution list. This service is to provide Health and Life’s clients and those who attended our presentations with up to date information on key financial and practice management issues that may affect your practice. Please do not use this as a substitute to seeking professional advice. Writer in charge: Mr David Dahm BA.Acc, CPA, FTIA, Ffin, FAAPM, GLFG.
A Special Tribute – the late Dr Hari P Dahm It is with great sadness, I write this tribute to my father the late Dr Hari Pada Dahm who passed st away quietly on 1 October 2007 at the age of 77. Thank you to the many that have sent flowers, cards, emails and those that have been able to visit the family and offer their support. Your condolences and kind words to the family have given us much strength under this most difficult time for us. I thought I would use this opportunity to share with you a short inspiring personal story about a remarkable man and doctor who I am very proud of. He was proud, tenacious and ambitious. He also loved and was dedicated to his patients until the very end. My father had a good innings despite a precarious start. “Dreams are the seeds of reality” Anon His passing was a time for reflection for me. As late as last week, the family learnt for the first time the poverty and hardship he faced as a young boy. He was too proud to say and did not let on how deeply he was affected until his last days to my mum. He had many challenges in life that can only dwarf our own. My Dad’s life is a celebration of his life itself. Born in India his father was a lawyer and he had owned 70 acres of land. Unfortunately they were on the wrong side of the border and they had lost it all during the Bengal partition in 1947 when India won its independence from the British Empire. His family faced poverty and ruin. Just before the partition he lost his father at the age of 17 and his mother a few years later. After losing everything, he still followed his passion to become a doctor. He begged and borrowed from friends to do medicine. From his village he would walk bare foot 13 km to school everyday crossing a river. He finally completed his specialist qualifications in psychiatry in England and he worked in Australia for the rest of his life. In the end he was married with 4 kids and 7 grandchildren and had perfect health until 18 months ago when he was told he had 3 to 5 years to live.
He closed his practice 2.5 weeks ago and said his last good-byes to his patients, family and friends. He loved his patients and they reciprocated and they became his main purpose and pride. For those who knew him and were unable to attend his funeral this is a small part of my eulogy to my father< "Today is a celebration of his life and the legacy he leaves. People say a part of you dies with the passing of a loved one. I disagree, a part of you grows – it’s a time for reflection of our own strengths and weaknesses and how others before us have overcome similar challenges we all face in our own world. Dad I thank you for the opportunities you have given all of us our family both here and in India and the US, friends and patients – the peoples whose lives you have touched for a lifetime. As your kids we have lived a very privileged life and a much better life than your own. I only hope we can do better with our own families and help our friends and the Australian community the way you have. This is your ultimate and immortal legacy you have left us all..." Like many of the overseas doctors from the poorer countries, they just want a better a life for their family and security. Many overseas doctors have made a great contribution to this country and I thank this country for giving my Dad this opportunity by welcoming and supporting our family. This is a testament to the professionalism of Australia’s medical profession and the Australian community. I am grateful for his remarkable achievement and for what we have now. I don’t take this for granted and can only hope to pick up where he left off. To my Mum, Dad has taught us time returns sadness and sorrow with hope and optimism for a better future. To everyone, make every day count and everyday matter and most importantly make a real difference. If your life has found you brimming with success and happiness, remember to appreciate the people around you whether it is family, friends, staff, clients, even your patients or boss (they are people too) - anyone that has given you a leg up and made your life just a little easier today. A special thanks should go to those that have taken the time and have provided you the support and belief in who you are and what you have ever wanted to be. Thank you all for being there for our family and being a part of our world. Thanks Dad Rest in peace. Love always from David, Veena, Nikita, Jai and Alicia - X000X -
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