Vale ‘cheeky’ Malcolm
A BELOVED Kingaroy optometrist will be remembered as a “lovely and funny man” after he was killed in a tragic car crash on the D’Aguilar Highway.
Malcolm Lee See died after his car collided with a tree along the D’Aguilar Highway last Tuesday morning, only a few weeks before his 69th birthday.
The South Burnett community is mourning the gentle optometrist who cared for his patients.
Malcolm’s son Wayne remembered his dad as someone who relished the opportunity to help others.
“Optometry was so special to him, and he really tried to help his community,” he said.
“He never sold any of the fashion glasses, even though we always asked why.
“My dad saw it as helping people, and treated it as a true service to the area. He never thought of the money.”
Malcolm started off as an engineer in his younger days at the Tarong Power Station, before becoming an optometrist.
He went on to open his first optometry practice in Nanango before he moved to Kingaroy where he stayed for more than 30 years.
Wayne recalled his father’s love of the area, and said he stayed in town to help those in Kingaroy when his family moved to Brisbane for their children’s education.
“He came back every weekend to be with his family, but he always loved Kingaroy, and I feel like that’s why he stayed in the town for so long,” Wayne said.
“He was very attached to the area, and passionate about buying local, and just being local.”
Malcolm’s employees Tamara Freeman and Gayle Louise have been inundated with calls since the crash, all from friends and patients offering their condolences.
“We’ve just had so many people calling since it happened, it’s overwhelming,” Mrs Freeman said.
“He wasn’t just an optometrist, he would go above and beyond for his patients.”
Mrs Freeman said a man called to give his condolences after being a patient of Malcolm’s for the past 32 years.
“He just cared for everyone’s wellbeing, and in the time Gayle and I have known him, we just can’t say enough good words about him,” Mrs Freeman said.
“You just say his name, and everyone had the deepest respect for him.”
Mrs Freeman will remember Malcolm’s “cheeky smile” around the office which was often paired with a wicked sense of humour.
“One time he asked me how old I was and I told him, so then I asked him, but he just loved being so private,” she said.
“All he did was give me a cheeky smile and wandered off. We’re going to miss him dearly.”
Malcolm is survived by his wife Marie, children Neville, Wayne, Amanda, Jemma, and his six grandchildren.