LOCAL LIFE
Dr Pritpal Singh and his loved ones
a citrus farm down in the Riverina - we were a classic dirt-poor family – plenty of dirt but no money ,” Dr Singh said .
“ Yet somehow they managed to save enough to give the three of their children a start in tertiary education .”
His young Sikh parents were living in a small village near the major Punjabi city of Amritsar where Sardul , because of his innate intelligence , was a teacher . But life was tough for the newly wed Sardul and Nirmal , so in 1963 Sardul migrated to England and found himself a job as a postie in Maidenhead , Berkshire , where he was joined three years later by his beloved wife .
Nirmal also had the smarts , and after reuniting with her husband , she worked in an electronics factory , became a mother of three , yet also found time to study and gain a Bachelor of Arts degree .
In 1979 , Sardul made the long journey to Australia to visit two of his brothers who had settled in the Riverina .
“ Dad fell in love with the area , returned home , packed up the family and we were once again on the move , this time to Australia ,” Dr Singh explained .
“ My parents established a farm , growing citrus and peaches but , I suppose just as importantly , they planted the seeds for their children to learn a good education , and for that we are eternally grateful .”
After becoming qualified , Dr Singh completed an Observership in Glaucoma at London ’ s renowned Moorfields Eye Hospital . Back home in Australia , in 2005 Dr Singh was appointed to a consultant Ophthalmologist role at Westmead Public Hospital .
At Westmead , he founded and then chaired ophthalmic morbidity and mortality meetings for over 10 years . He has authored many articles in medical journals and has presented at numerous medical forums .
Not only is Dr Singh always “ on the run ” at his two clinics and Lakeview Private Hospital , but also on the road , where he gets himself fit to gallantly join umpteen thousands running in the annual City to Surf event .
He completed last month ’ s event in two hours , 32 minutes and 34 seconds – 18 and a half of those minutes were spent in running up the well-named Heartbreak Hill from Rose Bay to Vaucluse . But throughout his life , this remarkable and admirable man has always put in the hard yakka to attain his goals .
Ninety-three-year-old Sardul still lives in the family home at Castle Hill and although frail , is in good health , while his dearest Nirmal resides in a nearby nursing home . There ’ s little doubt Nirmal and Sardul ’ s planting and nurturing of the education seed in their children has resulted in them growing into “ sturdy trees ”.
Dr Pritpal Singh has established himself as one of the country ’ s eminent ophthalmologists and specialist eye surgeons .
THE HILLS INDEPENDENT theindependentmagazine . com . au ISSUE 111 // SEPTEMBER 2024 9