The story of Dr Untung Laksito OAM is one of the final two individual doctors' stories to be added to the Discovering Our Doctors series celebrating some of our community's long-serving and much-loved medicos.
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'Lakie', as he has been affectionately known for decades, unveiled his panel at the Town Hall during Forbes Heritage 2019 celebrations and thanked the many people he has worked with over the decades.
Dr Laksito moved to Forbes in 1981 when he bought Dr Kelleher's practice.
The Advocate has previously shared the story of his childhood in Java and move to Australia when he was awarded a scholarship to study medicine.
The Laksito family quickly became part of the local community: Lakie was dedicated to his patients and much loved by them.
Colleague Dr Apollonia Lobo, who returned to Forbes for the Discovering Our Doctors event, recalled Lakie's signature cheerful whistling. In coming years the catch-cry would become "Never fear, Lakie's here!"
Trained as a surgeon, Lakie says he "learned general practice on the run" when he moved to Forbes.
"Life was busy then," Lakie reflected.
"You got one week off after 12 days straight, seven of which you were on tap 24 hours a day - I don't know how we survived.
"We did everything locally as far as Casualty was concerned. We didn't have a retrieval team so we did a lot of the general surgical work like removing appendix or setting fractures."
Lakie also served as Chair of the Forbes Medical Council from 1990 and 2000 and a member of the Medical Appointment Advisory Committee, NSW Central West Health Service in Orange.
For many years he was the visiting doctor at the Dr Kelleher Infirmary at Red Bend Catholic College and official Medical Officer at Bedgerabong Picnic Races.
In more recent years he specialised in skin cancer removal, before retiring in 2015.
Retirement has given Lakie more scope for community involvement, particularly in music, in the town he's happy to continue to call home.
"Lakie's Larrikins" have performed at community events and local nursing homes, and his 'pot-and-pan-demonium' collaboration with primary school students took the main stage at the River Arts Festival.
Relaxation classes, community radio and a mindfulness column in the Advocate have all been part of his ongoing work.
The panels are now on display at Forbes Medical Centre.
With thanks to Kerry Neaylon for the information from the panel. Full coverage of the Discovering Our Doctors event was in the Advocate on Tuesday May 14.
