Page 1281 - Week 04 - Tuesday, 5 April 2011
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Yet, as impressive as these professional accolades may be, they do not tell the full story of Dr Buckingham. That story can perhaps only be truly told by his 11,000 or so patients, mainly women. For these Canberrans, he was the doctor who could always squeeze in another appointment at the end of a day, or at the start of another, talk with a patient about his or her condition, and offer sober and compassionate counsel.
For his family, he was, of course, something else again—something that cannot be gauged or guessed at by the many who knew him in those other roles, but something profound.
Just 12 weeks ago, Dr Buckingham was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. While friends, colleagues and former patients reacted with shock, Dr Buckingham accepted his lot, leaning on the same strength with which he had enabled so many of his patients to adjust to and accept theirs.
Dr Buckingham played an important part in the lives—and the deaths—of very many Canberrans. For very many, he delivered hope of a long and healthy future after diagnosis. But even for those to whom he could not offer longevity and good health, he could offer the ear and shoulder of one who understood their uncertainties and insecurities, and who helped them to live the rest of their lives to the full.
On behalf of the Legislative Assembly, I extend my sympathy to Dr Buckingham’s wife, Sue, and to his family, his friends, colleagues and former patients.
Before concluding, I acknowledge that I knew John Buckingham, and knew him quite well. I thought he was a most wonderful man. John was one of those very rare people of whom it can be said, and I will read this in the form of a poem, that through his life and the way he lived his life, he showed us how to live, and in the manner of his death he taught us how to die. But it is a very high price to pay for that knowledge.
MR SESELJA (Molonglo—Leader of the Opposition): I want to thank the Chief Minister for those very moving words. I did not personally know Dr John Buckingham, but I am very pleased to join with the Chief Minister and others in the Assembly in expressing my condolences to Dr John Buckingham’s family and friends.
Dr John Buckingham made an enormous contribution to Canberra, to health care and to his family. Dr Buckingham was known across the nation for his work in breast cancer surgery and diagnosis. In 1979 he joined Canberra’s Calvary hospital as a consultant general surgeon, and remained there for many years. Under his guidance Calvary was among the first institutions to undertake sentinel node biopsy.
His work continued to include the establishment of BreastScreen ACT and he was one of the first to demonstrate the value of CT scanning in the early diagnosis of appendicitis. There is no doubt that his work has increased the life expectancy and quality of life of many in our community.
Dr Buckingham also demonstrated a strong commitment to education and training. He served as the National President of the Australian and New Zealand Chapter of the
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