Former Goulburn obstetrician specialist Dr Sujon Kumar Purkayastha is amongst the people recognised by the Australian Government for their contribution to the community.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Dr Sujon (or Sujon), as he is known to his patients, staff and colleagues, receives the Medal of the Order of Australia in the Australia Day Honours List.
The OAM was awarded for service to medicine as an obstetrician and gynaecologist, particularly for his time at the Goulburn Base Hospital and in private practice here from 1992-2017.
It also recognises his contribution to the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) as a training supervisor, DRANZCOG Advanced Diploma (Obstetrics), 1996-2017 and Fellow, since 1984.
Though he retired to Sydney in 2017, Dr Sujon has never ceased to call Goulburn home. He misses the contact with his former patients staff and colleagues.
“I still check the Goulburn weather every morning and read the Goulburn Post online,” he said.
“The Goulburn people made me feel so welcome and they trusted me with their health and the health of their yet to be born children. It was such an honour to be accepted into the community and to be entrusted with such an important part of their lives.
“I always tried to do my best with my knowledge and skill to guide, help and give them confidence.
“To receive this honour is so special and it would not have been possible without the people who worked along side of me and were part of the team.”
Dr Sujon understood cultural diversity and always did his best to encourage families to share in the pregnancy and birthing process. He broke with tradition and allowed partners into the operating theatre, at a distance, to share in cesarean births, even when there were complications. His idea was to show the parents just how much care the staff had for the mother and the baby and that they were doing everything they could for a successful outcome.
Dr Sujon says he receives great pleasure from seeing parents with their children he has helped to bring into this world and loves to know how they are getting on.
He has lost count of the number of babies he has delivered or aided in their birth. But he said he considered every one special and his job was to honour the trust people placed in him and always do his best for his patients.
Dr Sujon is now working part time in Victoria with several other doctors and spending time with his family. He particularly enjoys spending time with his wife and their grandchild.
“It is such an honour and a privilege to live and work in this beautiful country and be accepted and make lifelong friends with so many people,” Dr Sujon said.
“I am really humbled to receive this honour from the government for doing my best with the skills and knowledge I have gained.”
While you're with us…
Did you know The Goulburn Post is now offering breaking news alerts and a weekly email newsletter? Keep up-to-date with all the local news: sign up here.
Darryl Fernance
Photojournalist at the Goulburn Post
Photojournalist at the Goulburn Post
