THE Chief Scientific Officer at the Coronary Angio Unit at the Coffs Harbour Health Campus, David Law, was named the Coffs Harbour region Australia Day ‘Citizen of the Year’ in a ceremony at Coffs Harbour Botanic Gardens last Wednesday.

So devoted is Mr Law to the sensitivity of his position that he declined to attend the award ceremony, putting the health and safety of others first.

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Mr Law told News Of The Area he was unable to attend the Australia Day awards event in person because he is “currently working with COVID patients within the hospital environment” and as such is choosing to avoid public events.

“It’s a great honour to be given this award and thank you,” he said in a statement to NOTA.

“In my role as a cardiac scientist I feel blessed to be able to teach so many trainee doctors, nurses and allied health care workers.

“I feel teaching is a gift that is given freely and the reward in seeing others achieve success is great,” Mr Law said.

Having joined Coffs Cardiology in 2001 David was instrumental in establishing the practice’s Echocardiography Lab.

Also a qualified teacher, David trained at the Prince of Wales Hospital and supervises education and training of the technical staff at Coffs Cardiology.

David is renowned for freely “giving his time and expertise to many, many people both through expert student tutoring in sonography, nursing and chemistry, as well as junior sports coaching” a spokesperson for Coffs Harbour City Council said.

“But he always goes further and has been known to buy soccer boots, running shoes, registration fees and flights for talented young former refugee athletes so they can compete on an equal level with their peers,” the spokesperson said.

His next goal is to be a foster parent, or support displaced international students affected by the Covid pandemic lockdown.

David’s philosophy is ‘to think of others before you think of yourself’.

“Through involvement with my childrens’ lives I have seen how it’s possible to reach out and help other young people,” he said.

“I hope I can do more in this area. I know there are so many people that do so much within the community,” he said.

Ever humble, Mr Law told NOTA he “feels a bit embarrassed to win the award” and thanked all the staff of Coffs cardiology and the Base hospital that he works so closely with.

By Paul FOGARTY