The Newcastle community is mourning the loss of a beloved local figure, Dr Kim Ostinga OAM, who passed away on December 31, 2025, at the age of 89. The respected orthopaedic surgeon and passionate community advocate died at Newcastle Private Hospital following an illness.
A Lifelong Passion for Newcastle and Public Space
Dr Ostinga's family remembered him as a man who simply loved his city. "He just loved Newcastle. I don't think anyone loved Newcastle more than Dad," said his son, James Ostinga. This deep affection fuelled his advocacy, particularly his role as former president of the Friends of King Edward Park.
James emphasised that his father was not anti-development, but was fiercely "pro-public space." This principle drove a significant community campaign to protect Crown Land from privatisation. The group successfully challenged approved plans for a function centre on the site of the former Newcastle City Bowling Club on the park's headland in 2015.
The NSW Land and Environment Court ruled the approval was inconsistent with the site's reservation for public recreation. Known as Yirannali, the land holds deep significance for Awabakal and Worimi people and was later transferred to the Awabakal Local Aboriginal Land Council following a successful land claim.
A Medical Legacy Rooted in Community
Dr Ostinga's commitment to community was shaped early. He grew up in Adamstown, where his father worked as a GP and his mother nursed during the Spanish flu pandemic. This inspired his own distinguished medical career.
He served at the Royal Newcastle Hospital for decades, lectured in orthopaedics at the University of Newcastle, and co-founded the Hunter New England Bone Bank. "He loved being in the hospital. He loved the people he worked with," James recalled.
His wife, Margie, noted that from his parents' example came "a love of community, and awareness of what community needs." This ethos connected his medical practice with his civic activism.
Tributes from City Leaders and Colleagues
Newcastle Lord Mayor Ross Kerridge, who worked as an anaesthetist alongside Dr Ostinga, paid tribute on social media. He described Dr Ostinga as a "proud and passionate Novocastrian" and a custodian of the city's medical history.
Cr Kerridge shared a poignant anecdote: "He did tell me once that he was in his 60s when people stopped referring to him as 'young Dr Ostinga'," a nod to the enduring legacy of his father, known as "the doctor" of Adamstown.
Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp also posted a tribute, calling Dr Ostinga a "Novocastrian treasure" who was passionate about the city's culture, environment, and health. "He always came to the table with a lot of passion," Mr Crakanthorp said.
Dr Kim Ostinga OAM is survived by his wife Margie, their children David, James and Libby, and his grandchildren. The city he loved so deeply now remembers a man whose life was defined by service, advocacy, and an unwavering commitment to the public good.
