Ex-dentist still dedicated to service

WHETHER it be through team-based community efforts or through his former practice as a dentist, David Goldsmith has spent five decades serving the people of the region.

For his efforts, he was awarded this week with a Medal of the Order of Australia, which he said is a humbling reward for his years of dedication.

“Whatever you do in life, you do it because you enjoy it or want to do it,” he said.

“I was in private practice for 52 years because I enjoyed it. I didn’t retire at 65. I worked right through until I was 75.”

After studying dentistry in the early 1960s, Dr Goldsmith moved to Ballarat from the UK with his wife and two children in 1974, and continued his trade with Ballarat Dental Group until his retirement three years ago.

He joined Apex upon migrating followed by Ballarat East Rotary Club of which he’s been part of since 1986, and said making connections within the region was as much of a benefit to himself.

“When you come into another country and you don’t know anyone, I found it was helpful to have several different communities,” he said.

“I had my dental community through the dentists in town, the tennis club where I played that every week, and then Apex Club. It was the ideal way to integrate.”

Though no longer practicing dentistry, Dr Goldsmith is continuing his efforts overseas, delivering clinics to countries in the Pacific islands where he’s made 31 trips since 1996.