By Casey Neill
A routine medical check-up landed Yarra Ranges Councillor Noel Cliff in an operating theatre.
The Streeton Ward representative is recovering from open heart surgery, staying with long-time colleague Cr Len Cox.
Cr Cliff told the Mail he hadn’t been feeling well so his doctor sent him to Box Hill Hospital for a heart test.
It was supposed to be a day procedure, but when he ready to go home the doctor told him he wasn’t going anywhere.
“He said ‘we can’t let you go’,” Cr Cliff said.
He asked for a few weeks to get his farm and other business in order, but was told in no uncertain terms that this was not possible.
Heading into surgery was pretty nerve-wracking.
“I used to work in a meat packing shed, years and years ago,” he said.
“The first thing it reminded me of? That.
“They took a vein from my wrist to my elbow out and used that to repair the damaged stuff in my heart.
“My heart was clogged up, basically.”
He was released from hospital a few days later, to stay with Cr Cox who “didn’t bat an eyelid” and immediately offered to help.
“He’s a good mate,” Cr Cliff said.
“I’m told I can’t drive my car for 16 weeks.
“I’m like a caged up lion at the moment.
“I’ve got a fabulous lot of friends who are acting as chauffeurs for me.
“As good as that is, it’s not the same.
“I’m relying one everyone else, which goes against my grain a bit.
“I like to help others.”
He said the support he’d received had been “really quite gobsmacking”.
“The guys at the office have taken over all my stuff,” he said.
He said his constituents could pop into the Upwey Community Link for help during his recovery, or call Yarra Ranges Council.
“They can still get things done,” he said.
