Tributes pour in for Allan ‘Doc’ Brady
Wednesday january 20, 2010
Dr Allan ‘Doc’ Brady. ▪ Photo courtesy of the Brady family
St Lawrence O’Toole’s Cobar Catholic Church was filled to overflowing last Wednesday as the community came together to pay tribute to a local ‘legend and icon’ Dr Allan ‘Doc’ Brady.
Dr Brady’s funeral was attended by many Cobar residents along with local government leaders from across the western area, federal and state politicians and prominent business leaders.
A dedicated and committed doctor to the Cobar community for over 25 years, Dr Brady passed away at Cobar Hospital on January 8 at the age of 79 following an illness.
Allan Brady was born March 4, 1930 in Sydney.
He put himself through university working as a merchant seaman and baker to help pay his tuition fees.
Dr Brady came to Cobar in September 1969 to work as a locum for one week and continued to practice for over 25 years.
Cobar was also where he chose to retire with his wife Lilliane and they divided their time at their home in town and on their property ‘Mulchara Park’.
At times during those 25 years Dr Brady was the town’s only doctor and was also called upon to act as the town’s vet and dentist.
Long time friend of the family, local solicitor Geoffrey Langford spoke at Dr Brady’s funeral and described him as “committed, dedicated and unselfish”.
“He was on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 52 weeks a year, for over 25 years helping his community and his patients,” Mr Langford said.
“He was part of his community. He was in his community. He saw and talked to people and was interested in them.
“He helped people who needed work, he gave a helping hand to people down on their luck and assisted them to recover their lives.”
Mr Langford said Dr Brady was a very generous man whose vital eleventh-hour sizeable donation to the Lilliane Brady Village Cobar Geriatric Fundraising Committee helped to see the aged care facility became a reality.
Dr Brady’s daughter Deidrei Bedwell said her family had been overwhelmed at the care and respect shown to them over the past week since her father’s passing.
Mrs Bedwell said that while she had heard many locals refer to her father as a legend
and an icon, “he really was just a caring doctor, and a loving husband, father and grandfather”.
Dr Brady’s son Allan ‘Pally’ Brady, said it was only when he left Cobar and began working all around Australia and overseas did he realise the magnitude of his father’s doctoring reputation.
He said almost everywhere he went, when the name Brady and Cobar were mentioned, invariably someone would have a story about how his father had helped them and would bring out a scar that he’d sown up.
Since his passing, the family home has been inundated with flowers, numerous cards and messages of sympathy, along with food.
“People have just been absolutely wonderful,” Mrs Brady said.
Next story | News home
