Local legend Ian Schweitzer retires, after nearly six decades in pathology,

AFTER nearly six decades in pathology, local legend and community advocate Ian Schweitzer is retiring from his role as collector at NSW Health Pathology’s Narrabri laboratory.

Schweitzer’s colleagues said he leaves a lasting legacy and they shared a message about his outstanding contribution: “Team Pathology Narrabri will miss Ian. We admire him for his dedication to pathology and exemplary work ethic.

“We look forward to catching up with him when he drops by with his award-winning scones.”

Readers might be familiar with Schweitzer’s brilliant baking skills; he has claimed first prize at the Narrabri Show.

Generous and kind, he always shares his delicious scones, including with Narrabri Hospital’s Health Services manager Michelle Wilkinson. The pair has formed a great friendship over the years.

After nearly six decades in pathology, local legend and community advocate Ian Schweitzer is retiring from his role as collector at NSW Health Pathology’s Narrabri laboratory. Ian is pictured at Narrabri Hospital with scientific officer Abbie Murray and Health Services manager Michelle Wilkinson.

On a professional note, Wilkinson also paid tribute to Schweitzer’s contribution to local healthcare services and staff wellbeing.

“Narrabri District Hospital would like to thank him for his tireless service, excellent scones, super vegies and beautiful chrysanthemums on Mother’s Day,” she said.

“We hope that Ian enjoys his second go at retirement.”

Schweitzer has spent the last two years as a collector with NSW Health Pathology in Narrabri, but his career stretches back to 1967 when he began as the first full-time pathology staff member at Moree Hospital before moving to the laboratory at Narrabri in the 1990s with SydPath.

Working in the two-room laboratory behind the local morgue, he built his career from the ground up after completing six years of training while working full-time to qualify as a medical laboratory technician.

Schweitzer says the most rewarding part of his job has always been the people, highlighting the connections and interactions with patients.

“Some of them I’ve known for many years. I always try to treat patients the way I would wish to be treated,” he said.

Schweitzer’s journey into pathology began with an ambition to become a veterinarian. He initially trained as a laboratory technician in Queensland, working with animals before transitioning into human pathology.

After nearly six decades in pathology, local legend and community advocate Ian Schweitzer is retiring from his role as collector at NSW Health Pathology’s Narrabri laboratory. Ian is pictured at Narrabri Hospital with scientific officer Abbie Murray and Health Services manager Michelle Wilkinson.

Throughout his career, he has witnessed huge advancements in technology.

“The biggest changes have been in instrumentation,” he explained.

“In the early days, we made reagents from scratch and performed everything manually, from blood counts to biochemistry tests.

“Today, automation and barcoding have transformed the way we work.”

Working conditions also seem to have changed, with Schweitzer recalling: “When I started – in the good old days or some might say the dark ages – there was no on-call allowance and I was on-call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“If I went on leave, I had to find a person to relieve me.

“I mentioned this to a young staff member a few years ago and her exact words were ‘I would have told them to stick it’ – maybe I was stupid or a bit mad’.”

Perhaps his witty sense of humour and ability to find the bright side have helped to keep him committed to the job for so long.

He emphasised that the need for skilled, knowledgeable laboratory staff has remained constant over time, and reflected on how the unique challenges of rural healthcare have shaped his career.

From leaving the cricket field or golf course to respond to urgent after-hours calls to collecting hundreds of samples in a single day, Schweitzer has played a vital role in supporting his community through both routine care and critical situations.

There are tough and sad days that have stayed with him; it takes a special kind of person to work in healthcare and carry on working after sad experiences like seeing a patient die.

“Probably the most upsetting was when a shed wall blew on a small child,” he said.

“I had a daughter about the same age.”

Schweitzer’s caring, professional and resilient nature has been praised since his retirement.

Quality manager Jacquie Moore, Ian Schwietzer and Narrabri lab manager Clam Chimfombo.

The jobs people like Schweitzer do are essential to communities, and that’s why he strongly believed in the importance of saving Narrabri Hospital’s on-site pathology laboratory in 2024 and was thrilled when the decision was made to continue providing the local service.

For those considering a career in pathology, his advice is simple: start at the beginning and learn from experienced colleagues.

“Experience matters,” he said.

“And above all, always treat patients with care and respect.”

Schweitzer is looking forward to spending more time gardening, baking his award-winning scones, volunteering at the Narrabri Men’s Shed, and enjoying time with his family and beloved dog Daisy.