Anthony Mariampillai is a familiar face around town. The Ballan resident, who’s been working as a GP for nearly 30 years, calls it quits this week. He spoke to Sumeyya Ilanbey about his future plans and what he’ll miss the most.
What’s your background?
I came to Australia in 1985 from Sri Lanka. I first went to Alice Springs to work, but my (extended) family was in Victoria, so I wanted to come here. I got a job at a Ballarat hospital in 1986 and worked there. While I was working in Ballarat, I was referred to the Ballan family practice. I joined the Ballan GP super clinic in 2000. It was the first super clinic that opened in Australia.
What’s been your favourite thing about working in Ballan?
Ballan is a nice country town. It has a beautiful country set-up, beautiful people, who are very friendly. We were welcome in Ballan from day one. My children grew up here, they played football here and then went onto uni. Both of my children are doing very well now. I have two children, two boys.
What were some of the challenges you faced when you first started working?
The biggest challenge was that Australia was a new country for me. And we didn’t have mobile phones back then – we didn’t have ambulance services, and we had to be around in Ballan all the time, just in case we got a call. But things have changed now. We have a permanent ambulance service, we have mobile phones, and we have more staff working in the hospital providing emergency support.
Your retirement date is coming near now – how are you feeling about it?
The 30th of November will be a sad day for me. To tell the truth, I feel very sad about leaving Ballan, but I can’t keep on working here. I recently had surgery, and my grandchildren are in Melbourne. I’ll be working in Melbourne with one of my friends on a part-time basis, but also helping the Ballan clinic when they need me. I’m like a farmer – we don’t retire.
I’d like to mention the support I received from the staff at the clinic, and not only the doctors. All the staff, people from the board and management were very supportive.
What will you miss the most about Ballan?
I know each and every one who walked into the clinic. I’ve treated five generations, so I’ll miss that the most when I move to Melbourne.
On a busy day when you need to take a deep breath, where do you go?
I go for a walk with my dog or to the Ballan golf course, of course. At the golf course, you hit the ball and nobody asks you questions.
