Tributes flow for Dr Seidler

Tributes have flowed for one of Sydney’s best-loved and most respected GPs, who passed away a fortnight ago at the age of 61.

Dr Raymond Seidler, who founded the Kings Cross Clinic, was renowned for his work with the most vulnerable and marginalised groups in the city.

Dr Seidler’s son, Jonno Seidler, spoke to City News about his father’s extraordinary empathy, which extended beyond class, race, gender, sexual orientation or age.

“Dad had time for everybody regardless of their background, they could have been a film star or a drug addict,” said Mr Seidler.

“He chose to specialise in highly challenging fields including drug and alcohol addiction, the homeless and transgender people. He also fought very hard, against a lot of successive governments, to install injecting rooms in Kings Cross ensuring people in the area a better quality of life.”

Mr Seidler described his father as exceptionally community-minded. “He patronised all the local businesses for lunch or coffee and spent a lot of his time doing house calls in the local area.”

Vittorio Bianchi, a former patient and owner of Piccolo Bar Cafe in Kings Cross, described Dr Seidler as a “a lovely, gorgeous man”. Mr Bianchi said locals were in shock at his passing.

“He helped so many people, he was a lovely man and now there is a big empty space in our community. There will never be another doctor like Dr Ray,” he said.

Fellow patient and Kings Cross resident Christine Whyte said Dr Seidler was extremely popular professionally and personally.

“People would wait in his waiting room for up to an hour even when there were other doctors free simply because they only wanted to see him,” she said.

“If he wasn’t able to help you, he seemed to know just about every professional you could think of.”

Dr Seidler’s colleague and friend, local radiographer Roslyn Sharp, said Dr Seidler was very well respected in the community. “I hope the whole Kings Cross community always remembers Dr Seidler in their hearts,” she said.

Dr Seidler is survived by his wife and four children.