08 December 2021
Mihi mai ki a Tira Katene who hails from Ngāti Manawa and Ngāti Whare. On behalf of their Katene whānau, she shares why their family is appreciative of the Murupara Medical Centre...
“I want Dr Bernard Conlon and Dr Britta Noske to know that we are firmly behind you. Both our parents were patients at the Murupara Medical Centre. I met Dr Conlon when I moved home from Rotorua to look after our Father in 2012. He is an excellent GP especially when Dad was alive.
"There are not many doctors who know their patients by their faces. Dr Conlon does. He walks the talk. He doesn’t just talk. What he says – he does. You can’t find another doctor or a man who is so valued and loved by the community like he is. Our Dad, Wetini Katene, thought the world of Dr Conlon. We are very grateful for the care he gave to our Dad.”
Tira, who wears a special taonga given to her by her Dad, wanted to share her thoughts on behalf of their wider whānau with support from her siblings and their respective whānau who reside in Murupara and Auckland.
“Our Mum, Betty Katene, had a lot to do with Dr Conlon. During her life, she lived with diabetes. Mum spoke highly of both GPs, Dr Conlon and Dr Britta. If you knew Mum, she was honest, she didn’t stand for no-nonsense.
"I know she would be a big supporter of what our doctors are doing for our community now. We are right behind Dr Conlon and Dr Noske. The communities of Te Ika Whenua are lucky to have our doctors.
"There are very few doctors who would make home calls or travel the distance, an hour away, like Dr Conlon does over 30 years to continuously look after our rural communities like Ruatāhuna. He gives only his heart to our communities.
"Thank you, Dr Conlon, Dr Noske and the Murupara Medical Centre for the support, love and care that you provide from the Katene whānau.”
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