Northam’s current longest serving doctor will be hanging up his stethoscope next Friday, retiring after 38 years at Northam’s Grey Street Practice.
Doctor Colin Smyth has lived and worked in Northam since 1980 as a GP obstetrician, delivering the babies of the town for 35 years.
Alongside his wife Shirley, the pair have run the Grey Street Practice since 1994 with Richard and Stephanie Spencer.
Dr Smyth is not the only long serving member of the team with nurses and receptionists being loyal with their time.
Dr Smyth’s move to Northam has been put down to his faith and religion, with the doctor saying the move was the work of God through a series of events he had no control over.
“Shirley and I had been in Vanuatu for three years in a mission hospital and came back to Perth,” he said.
“I wanted to work country general practice.
“The day we moved up here our house in Perth sold so we had no where to go back to.
“Northam had everything I wanted.
“The doctor I took over from had been going obstetrics and that’s what I wanted to do.”
Dr Smyth said the most rewarding part of his job has been holding patients trust over a long period of time.
“The obstetrics was really rewarding and I delivered around 3000 babies,” he said.
“It’s exciting to be able to share in those intimate moments.”
Dr Smyth said he will miss seeing patients and it has already been hard to say goodbye but he has promised he will not be a stranger.
“I will still be coming back to do some locums,” Dr Smyth said.
“When doctors here go away I’ll come back and cover for them.”
His plans for his retirement include travelling to Zimbabwe to help work in a medical clinic, visiting his children and grandchildren more, working on his family tree and contributing more to his church – Bridgeley Church of Christ.
Dr Smyth doesn’t plan to leave Northam, laying down many roots in his 38 years in the town.
He said he could not have spent so much time working in the field without his wife’s support, partnership and encouragement.
A farewell afternoon tea for Dr Smyth is being held on Sunday 8 July from 2pm at Bridgeley Community Centre and all members of the community are invited.
