MOREE communities sadly said goodbye to one of its favourite medical practitioners on Wednesday when Dr Hamze Hamze was farewelled at a special luncheon at Pius X community centre.

Dr Hamze has been practicing in Moree for 13 years – the last 10 years at Pius X Aboriginal Medical Service.

He is more than a doctor to hundreds of people in Moree. He is their friend.

Dr Hamze will soon relocate to western Sydney, where he’ll join his wife, Natalie, and their three children.

He said Moree will always hold a special place in his heart.

“I met the most beautiful people in Moree, just really nice, genuine, down-to-earth, humble people with beautiful country traditions,” Dr Hamze said.

“Everyone in Moree is very welcoming and I love the sense of community here.

“You become friends with a lot of people. Because I worked at a mainstream medical centre and then the hospital, and now an Aboriginal medical service, I really got to meet pretty much the whole community. You become friends with everyone and they make you feel welcome.

“I will miss Moree. Absolutely. Forever. My kids are born here, so to them it’s home. It’s always going to be home. That’s something that’s never going to change,” he said.

Dr Hamze and his wife Natalie came to Moree about 14 years ago. Their family grew in that time, with the arrival of sons Farouk and Sam, and daughter, Tamara.

“I love my job and the only reason we’re moving is for our kids,” Dr Hamze said.

“After everything you go through, with uni and hospitals, on-calls and graveyard shifts, and all the different towns and cities, in the end we do it for our kids,” he said.

Dr Hamze started his career in 2012 with Dr Les Woollard at Balo Street Medical Centre.

“I did three years with Dr Woolard. I sat my exams and got my fellowship, and applied for a job at Pius,” he said.

“I didn’t know too much about Pius at the time and really didn’t know what I was getting into, but it turned out to be a great decision,” he smiled.

“My time in Moree has been beautiful. I’ve loved every moment of it.

“Moree has got a wonderful community. It’s got a lot of challenges, but that’s part of the package, like most communities,” he said.

There was standing room only at the Pius X community centre on Wednesday – inside and out –when a large crowd heard heartfelt testimonials from many of Dr Hamze’s patients, colleagues and friends.

Moree elder Darryl French said Dr Hamze saved his life.

“Dr Hamze is the reason I’m standing here today,” Mr French said.

“He took me under his wing and fast-tracked me down to Newcastle. At the time, Tamworth was on a pretty long waiting list.

“At Newcastle, I was in treatment within two days. I spent 11 months on chemo and radiation and today I stand here totally cancer-free – thanks to Dr Hamze and a wonderful oncologist in Newcastle, who still rings me every fortnight just to check on me. I’ve been taken off medication this month, and I’m on a good path now,” he said.

“Dr Hamze is a wonderful man. He has left an imprint on this town because he’s such a genuine, nice person – he and his wife, Natalie, and their children, are such beautiful people.

“We’ll miss him, that’s for sure. He’s been a great asset to Moree, but I’ve no doubt he’ll be back, for work and to visit.

“We should make him an honorary Gomeroi man,” Mr French smiled.

Pius X Aboriginal Corporation board chair, Cathy Duncan, said it was a sad day for Moree’s Aboriginal and wider community when Dr Hamze made the decision to relocate to Sydney.

“He’ll be sadly missed,” Mrs Duncan said.

“Dr Hamze is unique, one in a million, the type of person you see come along once in a lifetime.

“We’re lucky at Pius because we’ve been able to secure other doctors to fill the gap for our Aboriginal community.

“But, I think Dr Hamze’s 10 years of service to the Aboriginal people in Moree is going to be hard to fill,” she said.

Mrs Duncan said Dr Hamze quickly became a trusted friend to everyone in Moree’s indigenous community.

“Dr Hamze has been instrumental in the health care of our community. He’s been a pillar, and taken the time to know the Gomeroi community,” Mrs Duncan said.

“He and his family are a part of our community, and he moved beyond being a doctor.

“He yarns with his patients and gets to know them and cares about them.

“Dr Hamze asks the questions and finds out what’s happening, and has built trust and respect in our community . . . he’s saved lives in our community,” she said.

“We had testimonials today from people diagnosed with cancer and heart conditions.

“From their words, they wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for Dr Hamze’s care, compassion, and his fast response to getting them to the right help without any delay,” Mrs Duncan said.

Pius X board member Kenneth Knox said he owes his life to Dr Hamze.

“Dr Hamze has saved countless lives, in particular my own,” Mr Knox said.

“I can speak from my own personal experiences with Dr Hamze. Two years ago, I had a scan on a Friday, and by the following Monday afternoon I was in John Hunter Hospital.

“Dr Hamze gets in and actually knows your story, and knows your health story and your background.

“He is a very well-respected and well-liked doctor and friend in the Moree community, and his leaving is a void I don’t think we can fill any time soon,” Mr Knox said.

Moree Plains Shire deputy mayor Wayne Tighe said Moree will miss a valuable member of the community.

“Everyone is very grateful for what Dr Hamze has done and the service he’s given to all community members, especially our Aboriginal elders,” Cr Tighe said.

“He’s an amazing man and will be greatly missed by the indigenous community and the non-indigenous community.

“Dr Hamze has helped so many people in the 10 years he’s been at Pius, countless people; his work there has been incredible,” he said.

Dr Hamze will settle in western Sydney with Natalie, Farouk, Sam and Tamara.

“I’m going to do some locum work for a little while, for a bit of experience, because I’ve never done that before,” Dr Hamze said.

“In the second half of this year, I hope to get a job in a local medical centre in western Sydney.

“In Sydney, you definitely don’t want to live far from where you work.

“After living in Moree for so many years where everything is five minutes away, things will be a little different in Sydney,” he laughed.

“Moree is a beautiful town and it’s a town as good as any other town and suburb in Australia. It has a beautiful community.

“I encourage people and young doctors and nurses, and professionals to come and explore Moree, come and experience the town and learn from the experience,” he smiled.