Honouring the legacy of the late Sydney ophthalmologist Dr Raf Ghabrial, his friends and family have launched a fundraising drive for the charity he established, Friends of Nias.

Lagundri Bay on the island of Nias, Indonesia, is known as one of the world’s top 10 places to surf.

Dr Ghabrial, who died in tragic circumstances two years ago, was a keen surfer and started the charity, Friends of Nias, to provide general medical care for the people on the island.

Dr Ghabrial’s friend and colleague, ophthalmologist Dr Simon Nothling, is now helping to run/direct the clinic, which is also upskilling a team of local doctors and nurses to run the clinic on a day-to-day basis.

Keeping the clinic open was important, not just to the people on the island, but to honour Dr Ghabrial’s legacy, Dr Nothling said.

“I was up there last year. A lot of the people there can’t afford any medical care, so they really appreciate the clinic as it’s free for the local people. I took a lot of glasses up there and they were very, very grateful for that.

While volunteer opportunities exist, Dr Nothling said the most urgent need was for funds, to keep the clinic operational.

The organisation is registered as a charity with taxdeductible status through World Relief Australia.

Find out more about the clinic at friendsofnias.org and make a donation at wra.org.au/1807NiasMedical.