Search On Again

Newcastle Herald

Monday August 6, 2007

By FRANCES THOMPSON Upper Hunter Reporter

ABERDEEN'S dream of having its own doctor may be in tatters but members of the community plan another campaign to replace Dr Collins Oku-Oleng.

Dr Oku-Oleng, who will close his practice on September 8, is leaving for personal reasons after a stay of about 18 months, a decision that has caught most residents by surprise.

Upper Hunter Shire councillor and Aberdeen resident John Scriven said the town had to have another go at finding a doctor.

A community campaign in 2005 attracted Dr Oku-Oleng and his family to Aberdeen after medicos withdrew from the town because of a doctor shortage in Scone.

Volunteers refurbished the surgery with donations of about $10,000 and $15,000.

Cr Scriven said he was sorry to see the doctor go, but Dr Oku-Oleng had shown a general practitioner could make a good living in the town.

Aberdeen Progress Association and Chamber of Commerce president Doug Avard said people were very disappointed, but there would be another search.

"Everyone said we couldn't get one and we did get one," he said.

Ugandan-trained Dr Oku-Oleng did not return The Herald's calls but told an Aberdeen newsletter he "deeply regretted" that he needed to leave the town for urgent personal reasons.

Meanwhile, the activities of the town's progress association and chamber of commerce have ceased because Mr Avard said there was a lack of interest in forming a new committee.

© 2007 Newcastle Herald

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