Esperance mourns loss of Dr Chris Friend, Duncan
Author: Wendy Duncan
Published on: 14-November-2011
The Esperance community has lost a wonderful and caring doctor, a friend of the needy and a tireless servant of the community with the passing of Dr Chris Friend, according to Mining and Pastoral member and Esperance resident, Hon Wendy Duncan MLC.
“Dr Friend contributed a great deal to the area, not just as one of the hard working GPs caring for our ailments and delivering babies, but through his work as a member of the Esperance Rotary Club and he will be sorely missed by us all,” Ms Duncan said.
“His work for the community also saw Dr Friend serve as an Esperance Shire councilor from 5 May 1984 to 5 May 1990,” she said.
Ms Duncan said that Dr Friend had ministered to generations of Esperance residents, particularly the region’s Aboriginal community, who found him incredibly supportive when it came to tackling indigenous health issues. He was also a regular visitor to the Esperance Aged Care Facility where he looked after our seniors with a great deal of patience and concern.
In 2009 he received a Rural Health West Doctors’ Service Award.
“We are truly blessed to have someone of Dr Friend’s calibre in our midst for so long and our loving thoughts are with his family at this difficult time.”
Dr Friend died suddenly on November 6.
