Alf Rombout was a remarkable man. In the 6 years I knew him he taught me many things. Amongst others he had two tenets by which he tried to live his life and encouraged others to do so:
“Life is a Journey not a Destination”
and
“Choose Happiness”
I am honoured to have known Alf and to have been asked to talk to you today. I hope that through my words you may understand not only what a good man and great Doctor he was, but also how he tried, despite the challenges, to be true to these two philosophies.
Alf acquired his medical degree being awarded Honours from the University of New South Wales in 1987. He spent his first two years at the Royal North Shore where not only did he gain much surgical experience, but also became re-acquainted with Tracee who was to accompany him on the incredible journey that has been their life story since.
By the end of his second resident year Alf realised that surgery was not for him, but rather saw him self as a generalist. He thought carefully about the skills essential to provide a competent and comprehensive service in his chosen setting – an Australian Country Town.
With this in mind and a very large sense of adventure, he and Tracee set off on a journey that would see him working in places as far flung as the United Kingdom, Halls Creek Western Australia, the New Zealand Ski Fields, Nyngan New South Wales, and ultimately Kangaroo Island.
Along the way he achieved many Qualifications including the
- Diploma Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
- Diploma in Child Health
- Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
- Fellow of the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine
- Radiology Licence
- Avalanche Control Certificate
Alf also gained experience in other areas of medicine including Anaesthetics, Acupuncture, Alpine Rescue, Aero Medical, and Aboriginal Health.
With all this under his belt Alf was clearly equipped to provide a competent service the community of his choice.
It was not, however, the certificates hanging on his wall that made Alf a great Doctor.
Rather it was his many qualities including
- His work ethic
- His requirement that he and those around him practice to a very high standard
- His ability to keep on questioning the diagnosis and management even once a course had been set
- His passionate advocacy on the part of others
- His clarity of thinking
- His single or some would say bloody mindedness
There are many among you here today that have benefitted greatly from Alf’s work;
There are those, me included, who appreciated his expertise and diligence as a colleague;
And there will be some with whom he locked horns in the work arena.
We all know, however, that in his professional life Alf was driven by the principal that it was his role to do the very best he could for those who had entrusted their care to him
Armed with his qualifications, medical and life experiences, Alf set off with Tracee to find the town that they would call home. It needed to be remote, but big enough to have a hospital allowing Alf use his skill base; it had to have a good sense of community; it would allow him and Tracee to develop their extra curricular interests; and it would be a place they felt comfortable bringing up their children.
In 2001 their journey bought them to Kangaroo Island for a locum during which time I had the pleasure of working with and getting to know Alf.
After one particularly busy period I asked Alf if he would like to join me fishing for salmon at South West River. The drive to Hanson Bay took 45 minutes during which Alf polished off a beef pie, chicken pie, and a burger with the lot. He introduced me to his philosophy on food – protein and carbs were required for energy, but salt and fat were the essential ingredients for taste. When we arrived the surf was pumping, with huge white rollers crashing on to dry sand and then rushing up the beach. Together we walked casting into the surf and talking about work, medical politics, family, travels and fishing. Alf caught 6 large salmon and declared it “one of the best days fishing he had ever had”. For me it was not only good fishing but also the beginning of a great and enduring friendship.
After his locum on KI ended Alf and Tracee moved to a town in country New South Wales where they felt they may like to settle. I was very sad to see them go, and felt somehow cheated having found someone with whom I worked well, I respected greatly, and who had become a good friend.
Unfortunately for Moruya Alf rang me two months later asking “would we have him back?”
For six years Alf has been a member of the Kangaroo Island Medical Clinic with admitting rights to the Kangaroo Island Health Service. He was dedicated to the provision of quality care, and took the responsibility of managing a persons health needs very seriously. He was compassionate to those in need, but had a low tolerance for anyone he thought was not playing their part in the therapeutic relationship.
Alf could not tolerate seeing people dealt with in anything but what he saw as a competent and just way. It was anathema to him when people did not get the care they deserved due to bureaucratic rules or regulations. Be it at the Surgery, the Hospital, with Medicare, at the School, or with Ministers of the Crown, Alf would fearlessly and aggressively seek to rectify the wrongs he perceived. In many of these instances he and I agreed and worked together. Our approaches were very different and complimentary – he liked to call it our “good cop bad cop” routine.
Of particular importance to Alf was the provision of a comprehensive and safe Maternity unit on Kangaroo Island. He saw it as unacceptable that women could not birth in their own community. He was instrumental in ensuring the Obstetric Service became a reality, even to the point that having been forced to retire from work due to illness he continued to provide an anaesthetic on call service – This was done on a completely voluntary basis.
Having decided to settle on Kangaroo Island Alf with Tracee built their beautiful family home and created an environment that was safe and inviting for their family and friends.
In 2002 they had Mia who was to become Alfs princess and pride and joy. Together with her Daddy, Mia went swimming, drew pictures, travelled to Singapore, and ate anything as long as it wasn’t green.
Against all odds and to Alf and Tracee’s great joy Delphi was born 15 months ago here on the Island. Though times have been difficult since her birth, Delphi’s perpetual smile, and infectious spirit have been a beacon of light throughout.
As well as his commitment to work and Family, Alf was well known amongst those close to him for his woodworking, engineering, tree propagation and planting, fishing, crabbing, dolphin trips, prodigious appetite, and his endless desire to entertain the children he found around him – as many of you would know Alf was in fact the biggest kid of all.
Alf immersed himself in his new surroundings to the point that he adopted its local footy code, though maintaining the link to his past by becoming a loyal and passionate supporter of the Sydney Swans Football Club.
4 years ago, whilst pulling a catamaran up a beach Alf developed pain in the left chest wall. Typical of Alf he did not want to bother anyone and went to the hospital to take his own xray. Tracee alerted me but begged me not to tell him that she had called.
With in a couple of weeks Alf was to have a massive operation to remove a large tumour from his chest. He went on to endure Radiotherapy, a punishing Chemotherapy Regime early in the illness, and various other treatments including one given to him by a patient. The treatments though successful in removing most of tumour left Alf with debilitating complications including breathlessness, reflux, fatigue and constant daily pain. He rarely complained preferring, to the best of his ability to remain active, playing squash for a period, working at the Surgery and Hospital, and in recent months renovating a house with his Father in Law Norm and life long friend Paul Vale.
Four weeks ago, having already lost 16 kg in 8 weeks Alf refused to entertain the thought of pulling out of a planned holiday, and so the Rombouts, van der Lindens and Vales all made the journey to the New South Wales snow country. Despite everything Alf managed three sessions on the Skis that week, including a very important last visit to look at his favourite mountain range from the deck of the pub at Guthega.
Having spent 10 weeks unable to swallow, three weeks ago Alf commenced a new immunotherapy which almost overnight healed the massive ulcers in his throat. With in days, however, he went on to develop two new conditions that gave him profound muscular weakness. His Doctors were perplexed. True to form it was Alf who ordered the test that was to diagnose the first of these conditions. Despite aggressive treatment Alf’s weakness was progressive and in a cruel twist of irony these conditions once again made it impossible for him to swallow. As in the rest of his life though Alf continued to look after those around him and in his last week he encouraged me to take my Father out to dinner at the European Cafe where he had previously joined the two of us. Alf went on to tell me that he had so enjoyed the Saltimbocca the night we went together, he had returned to the Restaurant the very next night and ordered it again.
On Wednesday the 8th of October, Alf’s died at the Memorial Hospital in Adelaide.
For those of us left behind the depth of loss was almost unimaginable,
For Alf it brought peace to a body that had fought so hard it could fight no more.
At his side was the person he loved most in the world and who in turn loved him Tracee. Surrounding him were photos of Mia, and Delphi, as well as beautiful pictures Mia had drawn for him when she visited two days previously.
Alf was
- a fabulous friend
- a great Doctor
- a doting Father
- and a loving husband
Our collective loss is huge, but far more is our gain for having known, worked, lived, supped, played with
and loved our mate Alf