Admin Posted January 29, 2020 Share Posted January 29, 2020 It is hard to overestimate the impact David had on the lives of men with prostate cancer and those who care about them. As Convenor of the Toowoomba Prostate Cancer Support Group he was its powerhouse for many years. As a Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (PCFA) Ambassador, he gave presentations to industry and community groups far and wide in Tasmania, New South Wales and Queensland. In 2017, PCFA recognised David's outstanding service by the award of its highest honour, the Max Gardner Award, "in recognition of distinguished service and outstanding contribution in the Australian community." David reached an even wider audience as a consumer representative for Palliative Care Queensland, giving talks to community groups far and wide, and guiding the organisation as a member of the State Committee. We, of course, remember him best for his contributions to members of our Australian Advanced Prostate Cancer Support Group. Most members would have recognised his sonorous Scottish accent in our monthly phone-in meetings and many would have heard it in individual phone support, or at Face-to-a-name get-togethers, or when he travelled to them on personal support. (On one occasion I remember, David traveled 200 km from Toowoomba to a remote location high in the mountains near the NSW border to help a member dealing with pain to understand that palliative care is not terminal care.) Most members would also have seen, and gained comfort from, David's Story, his video with almost 50,000 views to date on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDi1KR7Y2O8 But few may be aware of his fostering our group's nature when he helped transform us from a not-very-organised bunch to a more professional group when he produced our first Aims and Objectives document back in May 2012. Even the Forums you may be reading this on bear David's stamp as he helped in 2011 to structure them in a better manner than our older ipbHost forums. David's life has been an inspiration to me personally, and I am sure to many others. To have someone who cared, someone who could be called on whenever there was a need was magnificent. But to witness him carrying on even in adversity was truly inspirational. Even in these last few weeks, in between sessions in hospital or a palliative care unit, David had lunch with Nev Black and I to discuss the way forward for men with prostate cancer and those who care about them. Family and friends are respectfully invited to attend a memorial for David on Saturday 1st February from 2pm, at Inbound, Toowoomba Railway Station, Railway Street, Toowoomba. Details at: https://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/tributes/notice/funeral-notices/david-hunter-abrahams/5261258/ May he rest in peace. Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonymax Posted January 30, 2020 Share Posted January 30, 2020 Jim has said it all in his eulogy above. David epitomised the best aspects of prostate cancer support and will be well remembered by those he helped. A great person in every way. May he rest in peace Tony M Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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