David Ranger passed away in early March this year after a long illness that he battled with until the end. David commenced his nursing career as a young man of 23.

It is noteworthy to say that entering the nursing profession for a man in the 1970s was particularly challenging as one might imagine.

Most if not all the seniority in nursing had worn large imposing starched veils and although the veils were easing out some of the starch remained and many were often not in any hurry to give up their knowledge particularly to a young farmer who had decided to do nursing.

David completed his training at Forbes continuing working there for a while then obtaining a position at Parkes hospital.

David worked in most areas of nursing in Parkes including Emergency, Theatres and the wards eventually going into various clinical management roles.

David worked primarily in the Emergency Dept and in 2007 was authorised as the first ED Nurse Practitioner west of the mountains, a truly meritorious achievement.

Three years later David applied for the ED Nurse Practitioner position in Forbes and had been part of the Forbes team ever since.

It must be said that a Nurse Practitioner is the highest level that can be reached as an Advanced Clinical nurse and David held this role at both of our hospitals for many years.

David was also active in the Nurses union not always agreeing with their views but always advocating for workplace fairness for nursing staff.

David's nursing career has spanned across more than 40 years. David was known for his compassion, caring and support not only for his patients but as importantly for his colleagues not only Nursing.

David provided much-needed support to our locum doctors, always generous with his time and gracious with his knowledge.

David was never cranky and nothing was ever too much trouble. David was always ready to help, available at short notice if we were short staffed. David also formed a great ED working relationship with our ambulance service colleagues.

David loved his job and over the past year it wasn't unusual that he should call the "chief" Cheryl Brown and let her know he was coming to work even though we knew he was doing it tough.

David worked his last shift less than three weeks before he passed away.

His great love of nursing and his colleagues often sustained him and it meant his mind was focussed on his patients rather than his own illness.

David spent his final days at Parkes hospital in the care of nurses he described to Liz Mitchell as angels.

This would have been especially difficult for the Parkes nurses that had both worked with Dave but also knew him as a friend and mate.

David Ranger, a good and great nurse, a farmer, a lover of animals, a spiritual man, a man passionate about his family.....We all now struggle with how David fought the good fight against this illness and then how very suddenly it took him away.

I think God must have needed an outstanding ED nurse up there in the great emergency dept in the sky to take him so early. The staff at Forbes hospital and the Forbes community miss you Dave.