Vale: Dr Harry Ratnam OAM 18.06.1950 — 14.05.225
THE city that surrounded him, the community that embraced him, his friends and especially the family he loved and who adored him, will forever cherish their memories of Harry Ratnam.
Riverview’s long serving and beloved GP, Dr Harry Ratnam OAM, died suddenly at 74 on May 14.
Dr Ratnam’s son Dinesh told those at his Dad’s funeral three days later of a special barbeque on the Saturday before Dr Harry died.
Dinesh said that despite being prepared for the departure of a loved one, “death comes knocking on one’s door unannounced and unprepared”.
“That said, last week, I had the blessing, opportunity and privilege to share a week-long memory with dad,” Mr Ratnam said.
“We decided we would invite his best mates: Paul Pisasale and Ron Heene.
“The barbeque lasted from 5.30 pm to 11.30pm, well past dad’s 9pm bedtime.
“Dad being in the presence of his children, son-in-law, grandchildren, mum’s family from Singapore and his best mates Paul and Ron – was well fed and gave us the most incredible interaction in years.
“A radiant smile beamed off him like not before, something we had not seen in years.
“I think those present at last Saturday’s barbeque did not regret coming and know that day, that moment, will be an everlasting memory for each of us.
“Who knew that day would be the last time we would ever see that smile? My sister quite correctly calls it the last hurrah.
“Losing a dad is hard. Losing your best mate you can’t talk to any more, is even harder.”
Kamalakaren ‘Harry’ Ratnam was born in Malaysia on June 18, 1950. After getting his early schooling with the Christian Brothers in Kuala Lumpur, his father sent him to Ireland.
He finished high school in Dublin, then entered the Royal College of Surgeons and Physicians of Ireland, graduating in 1977.
In his final year, the Agent General from Queensland interviewed potential doctors to work in Queensland. Harry was chosen.
But the journey proved long and arduous. After graduating, Dr Harry went home to spend time with his dad because his mother had died the year before.
But his dad was run down by two motorbikes and was admitted to hospital. Implored by his family to stay, Dr Harry started as an intern at Kuala Lumpur General Hospital.
After his internship, he started getting ready to leave for Australia, but the Malaysian Government intervened, saying he couldn’t leave because there was a doctor shortage.
For four years, he worked as a medical and health officer in the extremely poor state of Kelantan, in Kota Baharu.
Just before he started, he was married to his wife Raji. They shared the harsh conditions and were taken into the hearts of the people of Kelantan.
After he finished there, he finally arrived in Australia and started his own practice at Riverview in February 1982, a year after Dinesh was born. His second child, Reshni was born in 1983.
In 1991, Dr Ratnam also began providing medical services to the Salvation Army’s Riverview Gardens aged care facility.
In 2007, Dr Harry Ratnam was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to medicine in the area of general practice and to the community of Ipswich.
In 2009, Ipswich City Council named an 18-hectare park in Redbank Plains after him.
In 2021, after 39 years at Palmdale Medical Centre at Riverview, Dr Ratnam retired.
In that time he helped countless patients, had a treasured few loyal staff and became a precious part of the community.
His son Dinesh said: “Winston Churchill once said: ‘You will make all kinds of mistakes; but as long as you are generous and true, and also fierce, you cannot hurt the world or even seriously distress her’.”
“I think that sums my dad up. He made mistakes, he encouraged mine,” he said.
“He was generous and true. He was fierce and beautifully kind; his deep community spirit and his emphatic joy of treating people is truly recognised when you speak to former patients and the former mayor of Ipswich, Paul Pisasale.
“What dad was interested in was ensuring he paved the way for my sister’s and my education. He wanted us to succeed and be independent and fierce, but also to be kind and generous.”
