'Wanted Down Under’ television show
doctor returns to Tauranga
The Goodsons at
Hobbiton, from left
Angus, Arabella,
Freddie and Jo.
“We love New Zealand and I can't see us going
back to England now,” says paediatrician Dr
Angus Goodson after starting work at Tauranga
Hospital this month.
Dr Goodson and his family took part in BBC television show
Wanted Down Under nearly three years ago. The show’s premise
is that a family which is looking to emigrate to Australia or New
Zealand is given a week in their chosen destination to learn about
the job market, schools, housing, economy and the local area and
then decide whether they want to make the move.
That was in May 2016 and the Goodson’s chosen destination was
Tauranga, with part of the show being filmed at Tauranga Hospital.
“We loved the area and we were certain we wanted to make New
Zealand our home but there was the issue of securing jobs,” says
Angus. “At the time the Bay of Plenty District Health Board Medical
Director Dr Hugh Lees said I would have to be flexible with where
I was going to work initially as Tauranga was very popular and there
were no vacancies here in the Paediatrics Department.”
Angus initially returned to the UK where he finished his training
and worked briefly in Surrey before a job came up at Wellington
Hospital’s neo-natal unit. He leapt at the chance and the family (wife
Jo, son Freddie, 10, and daughter Arabella, 6) landed in Wellington
in December 2017. Then, a few months later in October 2018, a
position opened up in the Tauranga Hospital Paediatrics Department.
“I was on holiday in Taupō when a position as a locum consultant
paediatrician came up and I was invited to come for an interview. I
had to rush into Taupō and buy a proper shirt, because I only had
Dr Angus Goodson outside the Tauranga Hospital Children’s Ward.
my jandals, shorts and t-shirts,” laughs Angus.
The Goodsons, and their two dogs, arrived in Tauranga in the
second week of January with “a bunch of suitcases” and no
permanent place to live.
“Luckily we’ve found a house now, and everyone’s settling in,” says
Angus. “The children are absolutely loving it. Freddie loves cricket,
Arabella has tried rugby and dance, and they’ve thrived in the
schools over here. They love the outdoor lifestyle; they live in shorts
and do so much more sport than they did in the UK. New Zealand
just all seems a bit more carefree, it’s such a great place for kids.”
And Angus is settling in at his new department as well.
“The paediatrics team here has got a very good reputation and
everyone’s been so welcoming and friendly. Paediatricians tend to be
nice people anyway,” he smiles, “but they all seem to get on so well
and support one another. It really feels like a team. I’m very happy.”
So is Tauranga the Goodson’s home for life?
“We’d like to find a way to stay in NZ long term,” says Angus. “I’m
here for a year covering sabbatical leave, so I don’t know what the
future holds. Hopefully it’ll all work out, we’d really love it to.”
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