Towards the end of the night’s episode of Kings Cross ER the local larrikin featured with a patient suffering a drug overdose. The case was unusual because the man had also been given a shot of adrenalin.

Mr Hobday thought now would be a timely opportunity to remind young people of the effects of drugs.

He has seen the effects first-hand on the job and through family and friends.

“I was about 21 when I first came across drugs in Sydney, it was LSD then. Now, it’s more party drugs like ecstasy and ice,” Mr Hobday said.

“You see a lot of country kids going to places like Sydney and to the Cross to experiment where they don’t know anyone and where they won’t get in trouble,” he said.

“Even if they take half a pill each, it can affect one person completely different to the other.”

“When I was involved with junior league and the PCYC I always gave the kids drug awareness.

“I always try and convince the youth and to teach them to say no, and tell them the reason why.

“The problem is they start on marijuana, then they dry it up and get hooked on that before being pushed into more powerful drugs like heroin and so on.”

Mr Hobday said one of the greatest inspirations for him during his two months working in Sydney in 2011 was emergency department director Prof Gordian Fulde.

“He gave me the confidence to give patients reassurance. These young teens experimenting with drugs, I was able to get them to relate. I’d say you’re aren’t in any trouble just tell me what you’ve taken so we can treat you. I would tell them I had a granddaughter their age and recommend the doctor (Fulde) to them. He really was like a father figure to many,” Mr Hobday said.

“He knew I was from the country and he liked that. He said to me, ‘you’re different’.

“Everyone used to call me Mungindi,” he laughed.

“As we walked past his office he would often give you the thumbs up through the window.”

The episode first aired on Foxtel and Mr Hobday had no idea he’d made his television debut.

“My granddaughter rang me and said, ‘pop, you were just on TV’. I didn’t believe them but they took a photo for me and her mother recorded it.”

Mr Hobday was aware there was filming at St Vincent’s hospital while he was in Sydney but wasn’t aware he would be filmed, or that the piece would make the final cut.

“The doctor put his arm over my shoulder and said, ‘just walk this way’ and I could see this fluffy microphone over my shoulder,” he laughed. “I just thought it would never make it to TV and thought nothing more of it.”

Mr Hobday admits he was slightly embarrassed by the appearance.

“A few people have recognised me from the show and said something,” he smiled. 

And for anyone asking, Mr Hobday said the patient pulled through.