It was with sadness that an era of 50 years ended in Balclutha this week.
When he arrived in South Otago in 1963, Dr Jim Collins was five years into his medical career, fresh from a few years as a locum in West Otago. He never intended to stay long.
Fast-forward to August 2013, and it is only now Dr Collins (80) is leaving the practice - but not the town.
He was born in Christchurch to Patrick and Rosalia, moving when aged about 8 to Ophir in Central Otago with his family. He later boarded at St Kevin's College, Oamaru, before studying science at Otago University.
As part of his science studies, he was a research student at Ruakura near Hamilton. It was during this time that he decided he was more interested in humans than animals and began studying medicine.
''I got an agriculture bursary, and was told to do zoology. It was very interesting but it was through that I learnt I loved helping people, not animals.''
Dr Collins met and married wife Margaret while studying, and the couple later had two children, Angela and Peter.
He began his medical career in Invercargill as a house surgeon at the former Kew Hospital, before moving to Tapanui where he was a locum for several years.
As Tapanui's sole GP, he faced relentless travel to visit patients in their homes, and in winter the township was cut off from the rest of the region, placing even more demand on the doctor.
''It was a very busy time.''
Despite a hankering to move to Hamilton, Dr Collins was enticed to Balclutha to work with his friend Dr Bill Frengley as a general practitioner at his surgery.
He joined Dr Frengley and Dr Alf Shaw, and there he stayed for the next 50 years.
When Dr Frengley left the practice, Dr Fay Young took his place. It later became Dr Collins' sole practice.
''I said I would come here temporarily but I developed a strong patient base. I just loved it.
''But what really roped me in was Fiordland. We have a house at Te Anau which we've had almost since we came here. It's always been my favourite part of the country.''
He has also come to love Balclutha, and the wider South Otago area.
''I love the people, the absence of strife, and it's also nice to go down to Kaka Point for lunch.''
Dr Collins considers himself to be very lucky to have had such a rewarding career.
''Everybody likes helping people - I was just very fortunate to have the facility to do it.''
''It's a very privileged position ... you also come to know whole families, especially after being here for so long.''
One of the biggest challenges when he first became a GP was stress: ''I certainly had a bit of stress when I first started, until I learnt how to organise myself and learnt not to take work home ... it also helps to have a very supportive wife.''
One of his favourite roles was as an anaesthetist and he was rostered on after-hours and on Wednesday mornings as an anaesthetist at the former Balclutha Hospital.
''There's a skill to it. You have to monitor the patients closely and keep them at the level needed by the surgeon.''
His interest in surgery also saw him take on that role on Thursday mornings until the Balclutha Hospital closed in the 1990s.
''I really enjoyed that old hospital.''
''How often could you go down to surgery where someone was dying, only to walk upstairs and deliver a new life?''
While medical knowledge often changed, the basics stayed the same, he said.
There were two important things Dr Collins learnt about being a doctor.
''The first is that you have to like people. If you really like people, everything will work itself out. You have to be there for patients, but also balance your family life, too.''
Practice nurse Jeannette Blair has worked with Dr Collins for more than 30 years.
''She does all the work, and I just do the credit,'' he laughs.
''It's a good partnership - she keeps me up to the mark. She's very good.''
Dr Collins was a dedicated doctor, who loved both his job and the community, she said.
Outside of work, Dr Collins is a keen fisherman with his favourite spot in Fiordland, although he also enjoyed the odd fishing trip along the Clutha.
He was involved with South Otago High School where he served on the board of governors, and also served at the Employment Resource Centre in Balclutha as both a board member and president.
Earlier this year, Dr Collins was awarded a Paul Harris fellowship by the Balclutha Rotary Club - of which he was formerly a member.
Paul Harris was the founder of Rotary International in 1905 and the fellowship was established to recognise exceptional service to the community.
Dr and Mrs Collins will remain in Balclutha where they are ''quite happy'' to stay.
Dr Collins is the last GP to have a practice in Balclutha outside of Clutha Health First, and his surgery closed its doors at 5pm yesterday.
''You hardly get a more rewarding job than this.''
