Veronica Thake (right) with the painting her late teenage daughter wa...

GSM hangs painting from inspirational teenager

Deborah Thake as a young girl from the Illawarra treasured the dream of one day being a doctor and studying at UOW’s Graduate School of Medicine.

Her dream slowly evaporated as it became clear that her health was deteriorating through an aggressive form of bone cancer, Ewings Sarcoma.

Deborah died in 2006 aged only 15 following a five-year protracted struggle. In the months leading up to her death, Deborah did a painting which now bears the plaque: “Artist Debbie Thake. Prospective UOW School of Medicine Student. Lost a 5 year battle with Ewings Sarcoma on 19^th June 2006 aged 15 years. Debbie’s Motto: ‘never, ever give up’”.

Deborah’s mother, Veronica, today (15 December) donated the painting to the GSM and was accompanied to the University by the doctor who treated Deborah, Dr Mark Condon from Tongarra Medical Services. Dr Condon is also an Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer with the GSM.

Dr Condon said it would give Deborah’s family great comfort if one of her paintings could be displayed at the school.

Professor Farmer said the painting would be on display in the students’ area to help serve as an inspiration to others.

She said that Deborah was a very intelligent girl who would have been a great student and with her regional background would have been an admirable fit with the GSM’s vision of training doctors to practise in regional, rural and remote areas of Australia.

Dr Condon said he had been Deborah’s doctor ever since she was a young girl and was fully aware of her long dream of being a doctor.

“She was top in her grades at school and was very excited when the GSM first opened as she pictured herself one day being a student there”.

He said that despite the demanding treatment Deborah dealt with her illness very well.

Dr Condon said she was a real character with a good sense of humour which she drew upon through the hard times.