CHIRON Medical School | twenty eleven chiron Contents twenty11

Contents

Looking back to find the Future From the students 01 From the head of the Melbourne Medical School 14 Stories from our students

150th Anniversary Celebrations Alumni Stories 02 Activities celebrating our 150th Anniversary 18 Events, pictures and stories from the present and the past

An Australian Legend Obituaries 04 and a tale of two doctors 22 Tributes and memories

Mary's Christmas Album Reunions 08 A glimpse into the lives of four women graduates 30 Reports and plans

Melbourne Medical School In Brief 10 News, events, appointments 33 Congratulations, student prizes & awards, books

New Melbourne MD Launch From our Collection 13 Highlights from the first year 36 A new acquisition: Pietro Andrea Mattioli's Discorsi

Front: Lithograph of founder of the Melbourne Medical School, The editor would like to thank ISSN 0814-3978 Anthony Colling Brownless, by TH Maguire, 1850. Darren Rath for designing this issue and John Bedovian for his © THE UNIVERSITY OF Erratum: The back cover of Chiron, 2010 erroneously attributed production assistance. MELBOURNE 2011 the Chiron drawing to Maggie Mackie. This heraldic image was commissioned by founding editor Peter Jones, for use on T: (61 3) 8344 5888 commemorative items. Maggie then traced the essential elements E: [email protected] of the image into the strong design we have now incorporated onto the commemorative ties and scarves being produced for the 150th Designed by Darren Rath® anniversary of the Melbourne Medical School.

Chiron is published by the Melbourne Medical School. Contributions from staff, students and alumni are welcome. Enquiries and correspondence should be sent to the editor, Liz A Brentnall, Advancement and Communications Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, 4th Floor, 766 Elizabeth Street, The , 3010, Australia. Looking back to find the Future

On the threshold of our 150th anniversary performance, and was among the 330 students it is timely to reflect on the proud history of welcomed this year into the first cohort of our our Medical School. The determination and new MD. foresight of our founders were remarkable, particularly considering our very humble As described by driving force behind the new beginnings, with inaugural lectures given to MD curriculum, alumnus Geoff McColl, our first three students by a secondary school the course began with an auspicious launch chemistry teacher in his own laboratory. as our students were introduced to the This first lecturer, , was a human challenges we face as clinicians and medical graduate (MD) of the University of welcomed as junior colleagues in medicine. and is described by Greg de Moore All students register with the Medical Board in this issue as a wonderful polymath. It of Australia (chaired by alumna Joanna is noteworthy that in 1857, Macadam was Flynn), are vaccinated, and undergo police admitted to the degree of MD (ad eundum and working-with-children checks – early gradum) at the University of Melbourne – five reminders of their significant professional years before he taught our first students and responsibilities. Final year medical student only eight years before his untimely death at Tamara Vu, an entrant in the 2011 Peter 38. Another medical Jones Elective Essay Prize competition, has graduate, James Jamieson, is also remembered written an insightful comment on learning in this edition, on the 100th anniversary of about the responsibilities inherent in medical the prize in clinical medicine named in his practice and how to deal with its complexity memory. The commencement of honorary and uncertainty. admission of doctors to our medical degree is This portrait of Jim Best, by Vincent Vantauzzo, was not what we celebrate next year, however, but The acknowledgement of our 150th unveiled at the St Vincent's Hospital Department of the origin of medical education in Australia anniversary by the Friends of the Baillieu, Medicine in July 2011, joining a series of studies of past itself, encapsulated in our byline: ‘Making through their purchase of Mattioli’s Discorsi, departmental leaders dating back to 1957. doctors since 1862’. is symbolic of our heritage in the study of medicine and underscores our celebration’s University is one of many joint projects with Our anniversary is also an opportunity resonance throughout the University. our partners. This esteemed reputation, built to reflect on the many great and small through the deeds of our academic staff, consequences arising out of the lives lived by From humble beginnings, the University has our partners and our alumni, enables us to our graduates. Mary Lane and her colleagues moved to its current international rank of 14 recruit outstanding people from Australia and from the class of 1915 inspire us through in Clinical, Pre-Clinical and Health, as rated across the world, some of whom, as usual, are their lives, well lived in the service of others, by the Times Higher Education Supplement. highlighted in these pages. anchored to the present by their personal While not wanting to put too much emphasis generosities, just as Kim Yeoh and Jenny Hayes on these university league tables, it is worth I trust you will enjoy reading this edition illustrate the meaning so many of our students reflecting on the University’s motto, Postera of Chiron, named after the oldest and and alumni discover while working the world Crescam Laude, translated as ‘I will grow in the wisest of the centaurs, a great teacher and over in places that lack our resources. esteem of future generations’, and considering mentor to Asclepios. It was Peter Jones who how this has been achieved. Without doubt, commissioned the image of Chiron that we Mindful that this anniversary is but a our medical graduates’ achievements, in are using increasingly as the symbol for the milestone on a continuing journey, our Australia and internationally, have been University of Melbourne Medical Alumni current students, the embodiment of our prodigious, as have the teaching and research Society. My best wishes to all our alumni at future, will participate very actively in the of our academic staff. Our relationships with year’s end, I hope it affords everyone some events of 2012, as described by Melissa Lee, teaching hospitals and affiliated research time to relax in the company of family and who leads our Med150 student ambassadors. institutes are also of utmost importance to our friends. I also hope you will join us next year Sitting alongside this initiative will be the reputation and performance. to celebrate this major milestone in the history inclusion of the stalwart tradition, Med of your Medical School. Medleys, in our 150th Anniversary program. We continue to strengthen and expand these Plans for a special performance of this partnerships and the opening at Sunshine James D Best, MBBS 1972, MD 1989 irreverent revue, are described by Yiannis Hospital of a shared teaching and research Head, Melbourne Medical School Efstathiadis, who starred this year’s Medleys facility with Western Health and

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Celebrating 150 Years of Making Doctors

EXHIBITIONS A Med Student’s Life

Memories, ephemera and photographs of student days collected from Melbourne medical graduates from the 1860s to today.

Medical History Museum, 2nd floor, Brownless Biomedical Library, The University of Melbourne Thursday 8 March–Friday 24 August 2012 A Body of Knowledge

Two exhibitions across three venues exploring the differing perceptions of the human body through art and through the various approaches to teaching students the functions, intricacies and wonders of medicine and dentistry.

The Art of Teaching: 'The Anatomy Lesson', The Vizard Foundation of Art Collection of the 1990s, acquired 1995. On loan to the Ian Models and Methods Potter Museum of Art, The University of Melbourne.

Incorporating models, moulages, notebooks, Vivian Shark LeWitt, this exhibition pulls SPECIAL LECTURES photographs and illustrations from the extensive together a diverse array of body parts to create collections of the Harry Brookes Allen Museum a wondrous whole. Dean's Lecture Series of Anatomy and Pathology, the Henry Forman Featuring medical school staff and alumni: Atkinson Dental Museum, the Medical History The Ian Potter Museum of Art, Professors James Bishop (Cancer Medicine), Museum, and other University collections, this The University of Melbourne Stephen Davis (Translational Neuroscience), exhibition will highlight the fascinating objects Thursday 13 September 2012–Sunday 20 January 2013 Patrick Kwan (Neurology), Fernando and materials used in 150 years of biomedical Martin-Sanchez (Health Informatics), Terry teaching at the University of Melbourne. CAMPUS TOURS O’Brien (Medicine, RMH), Christos Pantelis (Psychiatry) and Paul Waring (Pathology) Leigh Scott Gallery, 1st floor, Baillieu Opportunities for alumni to rediscover old Library and the Medical History Museum, haunts and discover new approaches to Miegunyah Lecture 2nd floor, Brownless Biomedical Library, the making of 21st doctors at the Professor Stephen Holgate from the University The University of Melbourne University will be offered through a range of Southampton School of Medicine Thursday 13 September 2012–Sunday 20 January 2013 of free campus tours. Alumni will be able to November 2012 explore the campus, the teaching facilities and The Anatomy Lesson the anniversary exhibitions through the eyes of Halford Oration our teachers, students and exhibition curators. Sir Peter Morris (MBBS 1957), Nuffield Artists and anatomists share a long history of Professor of Surgery Emeritus, Oxford imagining the body, using their knowledge of MED ‘MEDLEYS’ REVUE Melba Hall Thursday 5 July what can be ‘seen’ to reveal and understand what is ‘unseen’—the life that lies beneath Generations of medical students have MED 150 AMBASSADORS the surface. entertained their friends and families over many years of the Med Medleys Revue. The 2012 The year’s events will be made possible by The Anatomy Lesson includes images found students will join players from bygone days to the integral involvement of 150 Medical in the many departments and collections relive the Medleys for the entertainment of all. Student Ambassadors. Medical alumni will be associated with the University. With a thigh welcomed, guided, assisted and informed by from the River God Po, the foot of an Etruscan Union House Theatre Thursday 13 September current students of the Medical School at all statue and a head by contemporary artist our events during the year.

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HOW TO BOOK

Registration for all events will be open in early 2012.

Individual invitations and further information will be sent out regularly during the year and available online.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

Contact our staff at the Melbourne Medicine 150th Anniversary Office:

c/– Advancement and Communications Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences The University of Melbourne 4th floor, 766 Elizabeth Street Victoria 3010 Australia T: +61 3 9035 3861 E: [email protected] Postcard of the Royal Exhibition Building, Melbourne, Courtesy Museum of Victoria. Photographer JW Lindt. See the full program being distributed to all medical alumni early in 2012. 150th GALA DINNER Check the Melbourne Medical Royal Exhibition Building, Carlton Gardens at a mid-year meeting called by two students, School 150th Anniversary website: Saturday 15 September 2012, 6:30pm for 7pm Felix Henry Meyer and Thomas Rupert Henry medicine150.mdhs.unimelb.edu.au Willis, who both graduated later that year. “No birthday is complete Lecturer James Jamieson was elected first without a party.” President of the society later that year.

Join your fellow graduates, teachers In 1880 the University of Melbourne also saw and colleagues to celebrate 150 years of the first entry of women students, to the Arts Melbourne Medicine. Faculty, the Medical Faculty would follow suit in 1887. This postcard reproduces a photograph taken by JW Lindt, a photographer who worked in Perhaps chief of the many important civic This QR Code (quick response code) works in the same way as a barcode in a Melbourne between 1876 and 1881. functions of the Royal Exhibition Building supermarket. If you have a smartphone, was the opening of the first Commonwealth use it to scan the code and the 150th website will open up in your browser. Designed by Joseph Reed, who also designed Parliament of Australia, although it soon This may take up to 30 seconds. Most the Melbourne Town Hall and the State Library moved to the Victorian State Parliament new smartphones have a QR reader already installed. As long as your phone of Victoria, the Royal Exhibition Building House, supplanting the Victorian Parliament, has a camera and internet connectivity, and its many temporary annexes, were built which moved into the Exhibition Building. you can download and install the reader. specifically for the Melbourne International Exhibition, which opened on 1 October 1880. The use of this gracious, historic landmark for the Gala Dinner, in celebration of 150 By 1880 the Melbourne Medical School had years of medicine at Melbourne, is intended been granted faculty status (1876) and 46 of its to dispel memories of exams and move us students had graduated in medicine. In that towards a future at least as grand as this year the Medical Students Society was formed, beautiful building.

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An Australian Legend: Tom Wills and a tale of two doctors By Greg de Moore

This is a story about Tom Wills. Tom Wills created the game of Australian Rules , and was our first great cricketer. His life, also, was a bridge between indigenous and non- . He died by suicide. This is also a story about two doctors. Two doctors who, in very different ways, influenced the life of Tom Wills. The first is John Macadam, the man who delivered the first- ever lecture at the Melbourne University Medical School; the second is Patrick Moloney, a medical student in that very first lecture.

Aborigines. Tom was a lone white boy growing up in the midst of black children.

This portrait, C1857, was taken soon after Tom Wills arrived in Melbourne from When 14 years old Tom was despatched to , England England, a short time before he called for a foot-ball club to be formed. where, amongst the elms and soft fields of Rugby, he learned three things: how to play the school’s unique football, the craft of and Tom Wills how to drink beer.

Tom Wills was a man consumed by sport. Returning to Melbourne at the end of 1856, Tom was a handsome man. When he paraded on the field, women admired and men envied his He was born in in the year 1835, on a bleak landscape figure. Independent and a wanderer, he was soon playing cricket for called near : the game of Australian Rules clubs throughout the colony. football was created by a New South Welshman. Never let a Melburnian tell you otherwise. In 1858 he famously wrote to a newspaper proclaiming that these colonies should have a foot-ball club. The following year he sat in a pub As a child he lived for a time in a tent with his mother and father in the and, with three other men, penned the first-known rules of Australian Grampians, western Victoria, and befriended the local Rules football.

4 Tom Wills was one , John Macadam the Death in other. What qualifications Macadam had for the post, other than being a chemistry master at Scotch College, we don’t know.

The game was chaotic:

The ball was frequently in the northwest corner of the park, and was at one time taken by a Grammar School player behind his own goal and right round the other side of the cricket-ground fence. This seemed, however, carrying the thing too far, and, Tom Wills (striped shirt and blue cap) with Victorian on being appealed to, Mr Thomas Wills, cricketers C1859. who acted as umpire decided that the ball Tom Wills (back row) surrounded by the Aboriginal was out of bounds, and it was accordingly cricket team, MCG, Boxing Day 1866. Wills was not content with an empty brought back. declaration and set out the key elements needed While Dr Macadam delivered his first lecture to start this game. His cousin later recalled: Fours years later, in 1862, the Melbourne to the new medical students, Tom Wills University Medical School opened. Dr found himself living in the Queensland But when T.W. Wills arrived from Macadam dispensed with his football attire . A handful of months earlier his England, fresh from Rugby school, full and delivered the first lecture (chemistry) in father had been slaughtered in Queensland, of enthusiasm for all kinds of sport, he the new medical school. Sitting in this first by Aborigines, one of 19 white settlers killed, suggested that we should make a start with ever medical lecture was Patrick Moloney. leaving an indelible stain upon Tom for whom it. He very sensibly advised us… to work out nightmares thereafter dogged his sleep. a game of our own. Despite his father’s murder, in late 1866, And so he did. Tom Wills undertook to create an Aboriginal cricket team in western Victoria. He brought Dr Macadam them to Melbourne playing on the MCG on Boxing Day 1866. Up to 10,000 people lined Most readers will, I dare say, claim no the streets and ground to watch them play. knowledge of Dr John Macadam. But everyone This team, minus Tom, later toured England has heard of macadamia nuts. Yes, the nut is as the first Australian cricket team. named after this very Dr Macadam. Tom’s act in creating this team is one of A wonderful polymath in an era before the great moments of healing in Australian specialisation robbed careers of variety, John history but is sadly unknown by the majority Macadam was chemist, medical doctor and of Australians. politician. He was born near Glasgow and arrived in Melbourne in 1855. A string of Tom Wills, now drinking heavily, was always accomplishments decorate his CV: member of desperate for money. He lamented: the Victorian Parliament, honorary secretary of the Royal Society of Victoria, secretary of ‘My boots are nearly off my feet & I should the Exploration Committee of the Burke and feel much obliged if you could forward Wills expedition. me ₤2.’

But it is for football that we now recall him. The first publicly recorded Australian football John Macadam gave the first lecture of the new match took place between Scotch College and Melbourne University medical course in 1862. He also Melbourne Grammar on the rolling paddocks co-umpired the first publicly recorded Australian Rules next to the in 1858. football match.

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The Melbourne Hospital C1880. Patients were brought to the front of the hospital and if deemed sufficiently ill were granted admission. All patients were bathed on admission.

The Melbourne Hospital at one end for the patient’s head. Perched among his friends. Many years afterwards, and Dr Moloney over the table, was a set of semi-circular medical students of the day recalled him as benches ascending like a terrace to the back ‘tall, handsome … with a naughty twinkle in In the last decade of his life, his name no of the room: rows of medical students were his eye’. longer on centre stage, Tom Wills’ life, spectators to the craft of 19th century surgery. descended into disarray and alcohol abuse. Tom Wills, was admitted to Ward 21 under James Barrett, still a medical student in 1880, Moloney, and recorded as: ‘Patient admitted In early 1880, by now an alcoholic, Tom recalled that wounds were largely treated semi Delirium Tremens state tremulous stopped drinking suddenly, and developing without any regard for antisepsis: movements of hands – was rather obstinate – Delirium Tremens (DTs), was admitted under refused to remain in hospital’. Patrick Moloney to the Melbourne Hospital. Whilst a student I do not recollect a single abdominal perforating injury or operation The medical records detail, precisely, the The Melbourne Hospital, the city’s oldest, wound which did not end fatally … treatment Wills received. Potassium Bromide stood like a medieval landmark on Lonsdale Surgeons kept operating coats of which they to induce sleep, digitalis to soothe a violent Street. Constructed of heavy stone, it was a were proud, as they were a mass of blood heart and iron salts to improve nutrition. tall, dark building, brooding over the daily life stains. Gloves were unknown, and the Moloney was noted as liberal in providing of Melbourne. Each of its three floors, lined instruments were often held in the mouth. ‘medical comforts’ such as brandy, wine, by tall oblong windows like heavy eye sockets, whisky and champagne for ailing patients. peered out from the stone building onto the Patrick Moloney was Tom Wills’ doctor, Tom did not receive such ‘comforts’. street below. It arose, grim, like an asylum. one of the three students who commenced the inaugural medical course in 1862. As a Death was not uncommon in DTs: exhaustion The poor feared the Melbourne Hospital as a student, Moloney found the operating theatre and dehydration could drain the mightiest place where one went to die or be subjected to a repulsive place, physically overcome by the of physiques. experiments for unproven medical treatments. gruesome procedures, sometimes having to be Wards were a spartan affair: wooden floors, a taken there forcibly. When Tom was admitted his tremulous simple bedside table with a porcelain bowl and hands were the most conspicuous sign of the jug for the day’s ablutions. Vases of flowers Moloney was probably the most interesting growing potency of his DTs. Quick to startle – dim embers of hope – were dotted about to of all the doctors at the Melbourne Hospital and quick to misjudge, dishevelled and wide- dispel the smell of incipient death. but perhaps not the most assiduous in his eyed, it would not be long until he started to craft. ‘Gentle and generous’ he was one of mistake shadows as assassins. Inside, the business of medicine was the first two graduates in 1867 from the new practised. In the centre of an operating theatre Melbourne University School of Medicine. Within hours of admission, Wills absconded lay a table for a patient. The table was draped A poet and non-conformist, Moloney counted from hospital. The following day, tormented by with a white sheet and on it rested a pillow and Marcus Clarke delusions and hallucinations, he took his life. 6 Tom Wills’ gravesite in Heidelberg lay Greg de Moore, MBBS 1982, BSc (Med) 1979, untouched for 100 years: a patch of dirt, a PhD, is a consultant psychiatrist at Westmead raised mound with nothing to indicate the Hospital, . He discovered the medical man beneath. In 1980, the Melbourne Cricket notes of Tom Wills at . Club returned and upon this anonymous The resultant biography Tom Wills was short- rise of soil righted the neglect of a century by listed for the National Biography Award. Greg erecting a headstone to its most famous son. spoke at last year’s Sydney Writers’ Festival.

Patrick Moloney was a well-known poet and friend of the Melbourne artistic establishment. He was also a Melbourne Hospital physician and doctor to Tom Wills.

The medical notes detailing Tom Wills’ brief admission to the Melbourne Hospital on the day before his death.

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Mary’s Christmas Album By Liz Brentnall

Fifth Year Medical Students in 1914. Pictured are: JV Guest, ER Kerr, FF McMahon, H Halloran, ER Welch, ST Appleton, RG Woods, K McK Doig, AS Anderson, M Sorokiewich, F Colahan, FC Fitzpatrick, JC Harper, JE Shelley, J Hughston, K Moore, WHH Birrell, G Sleeman, MR Hughes, HB Graham, GC Scantlebury, R Burnie, VB Alexander, JEM Wigley, AN Dickson, AEV Hartkopf, PN Whitehead, LL McMahon, HW James, Miss G Wisewould, Miss M Lane, NL Prichard, WS Newton, TA Wright, RW Hogg, Miss EN Balaam, Miss AL Bennett, Miss EJ Davies, W Rogerson, GC Bury, W O’Shanassey, E Glassford, J Shanosay.

Names under individual portraits: DC Pigden, HP Brownell, WL Henderson, C McAdam, FL Trinca, KA McLean, AW Bretherton, TG Fetherstonhaugh.

Photo courtesy Medical History Museum

8 Tucked away in a box on a shelf in the The first photograph from Mary Lane’s ‘Christmas The caption to this last picture in the album, reads ‘On University of Melbourne Archives is a small 1913’ album features: Annie Bennett, Mary Lane, Gwen New Melbourne Hospital’. Mary Lane is on the left and photo album of black card and paper, labelled Wisewould and Jean Davies. A skeleton is suspended Jean Davies in the middle. The legend accompanying ‘Christmas 1913’. According to captions from the centre of the wooden structure behind Mary the album names Annie Bennett on the left although, inscribed on the pages, the photographs in the and white coats hang from a row of hooks on the wall scrutinised closely against the first photo, she is Gwen album were taken around the ‘Old’ and ‘New’ behind them. University of Melbourne Archives. Wisewould. University of Melbourne Archives. Melbourne Hospitals. The album was left to the Archives by 1915 alumnus, Mary Lane, along with a collection of subject notebooks difficult. As women’s issues journalist, Rosalie Queen’s College while at university. The from her medical studies. Warne, noted in the Argus in 1954: ‘The need Queen’s College archives also hold a few items for them was so great that for a few brief years which belonged to Mary: souvenirs of a trip to Between 1912-16, the Melbourne Hospital they were even paid full male rates. The post- London, British Medical Association (BMA) was rebuilt in phases on its Lonsdale street war return to sanity soon put an end to that, meetings and concert programs, echoing the site. New wards were officially opened in July however, and they were cut down to 75%.’ album’s sense of holding on to the memories 1913 then, after a period for public inspection, These women all remained single and spent of small but significant events. occupied by patients in the first week of their lives in medical practice. August. The August 1913 issue of Speculum, After graduation, Mary built her career in noted caustically that mention of the opening Annie Bennett is reported in the Argus, in Melbourne and was in a senior enough role had been in the daily press, but ‘that no 1916, as treating two motorcyclists at the to be listed by the Argus among a group notice or news of the ceremony reached the Melbourne Hospital who had been injured of Melbourne medicos attending the 1934 M.S.S. Courtesy of this order may be taken as in a collision, then later, as practising at BMA Congress in . By 1940, she was an index of the general attitude of the M.H. Mooroopna, and finally dying in 1940 ‘due to travelling to Western Australia in her role as authorities towards the students as a body.’ heart trouble’. Medical Inspector of Schools to meet, and Much of the Speculum commentary over this inspect, children evacuated from Britain. period is openly critical of the Melbourne Gwen Wisewould established a private practice By 1954, she was Chief Medical Inspector Hospital management. in the city, St Kilda and Elsternwick, working of Schools. in ENT and general surgery at the Queen By December that year, however, Speculum Victoria Hospital, and teaching anaesthesia A sense of history prompted Mary to collect noted that Melbourne Hospital students to medical students at the Alfred. She left and keep mementos of meaningful times in would soon be occupying their new quarters Melbourne, however, in 1938 to take over her life, and to ensure their preservation for and that ‘some of the furnishings for the the practice at Trentham. Gwen served the the future. Perhaps her appreciation of the women students’ rooms has arrived, and to Victorian country town and its surrounding historic value of small acts also played a part all appearances is really first class, and much community devotedly until her death in in her decision to bequeath her residuary better than was expected.’ These photos were 1972, four years prior to which she donated estate to the University ‘for research within the taken, perhaps, as mementos, celebrating the $20,000 to the University of Melbourne, Department of Psychiatry into the aetiology students’ move into their new quarters. establishing the Truganini Scholarships for and treatment of mental illness’. Aboriginal students. The first features four women, noted in an We are indebted to Mary for six photographs accompanying legend as: Annie Bennett, Jean Davies spent 26 years in South Korea, recording the companionable delight of Mary Lane, Gwen Wisewould and Jean working as a medical missionary with the four women medical students entering Davies – all medical students at the University Presbyterian Women’s Missionary Union their clinical training, just as we are for of Melbourne in 1913. The following (PWMU) at the Paton Memorial Hospital at her thoughtful gift to advance research pictures each depict three of the women, Chinju. Evacuated from Korea in 1942, she in psychiatry. wearing increasingly more relaxed, even returned to Australia where she was a popular playful demeanours. speaker at meetings of the PWMU. Jean Research for this article was conducted then moved to Ernabella Mission Station in using the online issues of Speculum (UOM), What did the future hold for these women South Australia where, it was reported, she The Argus and the Australian Dictionary of entering medicine at the beginning of the intended researching eye disease in the local Biography (NLA). The author is grateful for First World War? Many men left Australia and Indigenous community. the interest and assistance of archivists at the civilian practice to join the war effort, opening University of Melbourne, the Royal Melbourne up positions for women, but maintaining an Mary Lane and her sister, Ethel, an Arts’ Hospital and Queen’s College. upward career trajectory thereafter could be student, were non-resident students of

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News, Events and Appointments

150th Program Launch

In July 2011 the Melbourne Medical School 150th Anniversary Program was previewed by a group of alumni who had responded to our survey of medical school alumni in the 2010 issue of Chiron. The opinions of alumni have been used to design the 150th program and this night was an opportunity to thank them for their interest and their valuable suggestions.

Hosts James Angus, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, and James Best, Head of the Melbourne Medical School, spoke briefly about the anniversary plans and Chancellor Elizabeth Alexander welcomed guests back to the University. Guests included three former Deans of the Faculty: Professors Emeritus David Penington, Graeme Ryan and Gordon Clunie and a group of medical students eager to talk with alumni.

Professor Stephen Lew instructing students at the Western Centre for Health Research and Education.

A farsighted initiative for Melbourne’s emergency, paediatric and aged-care practice. western suburbs was realised this year Students also spend one day a week in a with the opening of the Western Centre primary-care community base. for Health Research and Education. Following the move of Susie Shears The product of a close partnership between to the position of manager of the Melbourne University, Western Health and University’s cultural collections, the Victoria University, this centre will house 300 Medical History Museum has appointed clinicians, researchers, educators and students Jacqueline Healy as curator. Hugh Taylor (MBBS 1971) and James Guest (MBBS from medical, nursing, allied health and 1941) share a laugh. many other health professions, and is the new With extensive experience in the arts home for our Western Clinical School. The and museum sectors, Jackie comes to the centre's exceptional clinical training facilities University from Bundoora Homestead Art are attracting students and professionals to Centre, where she was the inaugural Director Melbourne’s fastest growing region. from 2002 to 2011.

The many benefits of co-locating and integrating Jackie is enthusiastic about the extensive clinical teaching and research add value to the program of events planned to celebrate centre placing it in the vanguard of clinical the 150th Anniversary, in particular the teaching, research and research translation. exhibitions, which will bring together material from collections across the University to Medical students commenced at the focus on the history of medicine and medical new facility this September. Built at the teaching. The Medical History Museum is Rob Rome (MBBS 1968) with medical students Andrew Sunshine Hospital, the centre is equipped planning to further develop its links with the Rankin (final year), Yiannis Efstathiadis (first year) and with simulation and clinical training wards teaching program, the academic community Heli Simpson (final year). for studying medical, surgical, obstetric, and general public. Plans for the future include

10 relocating the museum and the redevelopment note recording that she donated the clock to of the website to increase accessibility to the the Museum of the MSV (Medical Society of collections and exhibitions by alumni, students Victoria) and dated 1974. and the general public. The second is a thank you note, addressed to Wilma Beswick (MBBS 1972) recently Dr Dickson, who was Medical Secretary of the retired from the Clinical Deanship at St MSV from 1935-65, and is dated 21 December Vincent’s Hospital. 1962, from whom, like the signature, is unclear. The author thanks Dr Dickson: Since commencing in the role in 1989 she has been stalwart in her leadership of medical ‘for your kindness and assistance at the education for the hospital, the Medical Stawell Oration and the dinner on Saturday. School and the University of Melbourne. Her I have appreciated the invitations and the commitment to teaching is reflected in the consideration shown me and the tributes excellent academic results of St Vincent’s paid to uncle.’ students and their continued success as doctors in their chosen fields of practice. The author then offers Dr Dickson some trinkets which may be ‘of interest to your Fortunately, Wilma continues her association museum. ‘There is a beautiful old watch, with St Vincent’s Hospital remaining actively silver watch box and … all of which belonged Jim Bishop. engaged in several roles. to a son of James Walkley of the Lancet…’ Leading clinical academic, Stephen AMA Collection and Clock The clock, in its silver case, was most recently Davis, has taken up the inaugural Chair presented by Harry Hemley, President of the of Translational Neuroscience. AMA to James Best, Head of the Melbourne Medical School, in May this year, at a Also a 1972 medical graduate, Stephen celebration to mark the donation of the AMA has a well-deserved reputation as a leader collection of historical documents, objects and in clinical care and research, developing photographs, which had been on loan to the innovative models of caring for patients with Medical History Museum since 1994. neurological disorders.

Moving from his position as Chief This role, based in the newly established Medical Officer of the Australian Melbourne Brain Centre, will enable Stephen Government in May this year, James to enhance collaboration between the Bishop, AO has taken up the newly neuroscience programs operating throughout created Chair of Cancer Medicine. the University and its teaching hospitals. Rowden White Clock in Case. A Melbourne medical alumnus from the year Stephen Davis will deliver a Dean’s Lecture in This beautiful timepiece is also a presentation of 1972, James will also be inaugural head of 2012 'Saving brain in acute stroke: Opening piece. A large fob-style clock, too large to the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre. the artery and stopping the bleeding' carry about, is cradled inside a silver case, His expertise in the areas of cancer services, which bears the inscription describing its first education and research will be invaluable in In February this year, Fernando Martin- presentation: ‘To Dr A.E. Rowden White from guiding the creation of what will be the largest Sanchez took up his appointment two grateful patients M.E. and S.S. Wakley clinical and research cancer centre in Australia. as Professor and Chair of Health 1911’. A small card and short note tucked Informatics. inside the case, under the clock offer clues to The University is joined by the Peter MacCallum other presentations in its history. Cancer Centre, Melbourne Health, the Ludwig With wide ranging research interests related Institute for Cancer Research, the Walter and to eHealth, modelling and simulation, and On the first, a newspaper death notice for Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research and the the role of informatics in the development of Victoria Wakley, daughter of James and Royal Women’s and Royal Children’s Hospitals personalised medicine – including genomic Elizabeth Wakely, is stuck, accompanied by a in this project. and nano technologies, Fernando’s expertise

11 chiron Melbourne Medical School twenty11

in these cutting edge areas will be invaluable proteins at the erythrocyte surface and in in navigating convergences between medical understanding the remarkable transformation science and technology. that allows the malaria parasite to be transmitted from a human host to a Fernando Sanchez will deliver a Dean’s mosquito vector. Lecture entitled 'Information processing in medicine: from particle to population' in 2012 She believes that a convergence of the life and physical sciences will be needed to answer the Stephen Trumble’s leadership role in major medical and biotechnology questions of the development of the new MD at the 21st century. the University of Melbourne should ensure a seamless move into his new Moving across Royal Parade from role as Chair of Clinical Education and the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Training Development. Medical Research, Jose Villadangos recently took up the new Joint Chair in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Microbiology and Immunology.

The dual nature of this appointment acknowledges the overlapping qualities Sue Walker. between these two disciplines and the advances and benefits arising from their The Apex Foundation Chair of respective researchers joining forces. Jose will Developmental Medicine, based in the continue his own research, which straddles Department of Paediatrics at the Royal biochemistry, cell biology and immunology, Children’s Hospital was taken up this while working to foster collaborations between year by Katrina Williams. the departments. Stephen Trumble. With an extensive background in community Sue Walker’s appointment as the child health and disabilities, Katrina is With a background in general practice, at Sheila Handbury Chair of Maternal bringing her expertise to bear on the and the RACGP, Stephen Fetal Medicine, represents a successful many issues surrounding the diagnosis moved to the Department of General collaboration between Mercy Health and management of autism and the level Practice at Melbourne University in 2006. and the Mercy Health Foundation, the of support offered to families of children More recently, he has been closely involved Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and with disabilities. in establishing new clinical schools at the Health Sciences and the generosity and Western and Northern hospitals as part of vision of Mr Geoff Handbury, AO. Of her vision for an increased collaborative the development of the new MD – all while effort to establish best practice in the continuing in general clinical practice. The chair is named for Sheila Handbury, diagnosis, treatment and care of those with Geoff’s mother, in appreciation of the excellent autism, Katrina says: ‘It’s better to bring In this new role Stephen will be responsible care she received at the hands of the Sisters of together the best brains in all sorts of areas for ensuring that we continue to offer Mercy during the 1930s. so that we can gain some collaborative our medical students a liberal choice of momentum. There is no one person or one challenging and diverse clinical placements. Sue, a 1989 MBBS Melbourne graduate, has group in a lab that will have all the answers.’ been Director of Perinatal Medicine at the Leann Tilley is the new Chair of Mercy since 2005 and will continue to provide A podcast of Katrina’s lecture exploring issues Biochemistry and Molecular Biology exemplary leadership in teaching, research surrounding the growing awareness of autism, at the Bio21 Molecular Science and and clinical practice, focusing on the health is available from: www.mdhs.unimelb.edu.au/ Biotechnology Institute. and wellbeing of mothers and their babies event/autism-so-many-questions-and-so-few- during pregnancy. answers Moving her team from La Trobe University in the middle of 2011, Leann brought her In April this year, Sue gave a Dean’s Lecture well-recognised expertise in the area of cell entitled ‘The fetus as a patient’ in which she biology and drug development related to the addressed critical elements of managing malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum to some of Victoria’s most vulnerable and the Institute. complicated pregnancies.

A particular focus for her team is on the A recording of this lecture is available as a unusual protein trafficking pathways the podcast from: www.mdhs.unimelb.edu.au/ malaria parasite uses to display virulence event/fetus-patient

12 Launch of the new Melbourne MD By Geoff McColl

Week one of the new Melbourne MD took our learning (a derivation of problem based Another highlight of the first year of the MD first 330 students by surprise. With hardly learning) and associated lectures and practical has been the inaugural student conference. a lecture in sight, they were challenged to sessions, students took their first steps This new subject aims to use the setting of a consider the ideal characteristics for a doctor building the scaffold of their future medical conference to address broader issues relevant in the twenty-first century. They began learning. Clinical colloquia, which bring all to medical practice. The first conference by watching a video clip from the popular of the students together in their groups with covered topics of leadership, research, medical medical drama House, which demonstrated senior clinicians and educators to extend history, ethics, communications, indigenous the vagaries of Dr House’s clinical reasoning their learning with related new cases and health and inter-professional practice. The as well as some moral and ethical dilemmas. relevant bioscience are an innovative feature student conference will grow over the ensuing This stimulated a week-long discussion matched by a variety of activities designed to prompt each student into considering their future role as a doctor. In one activity, students heard firsthand patients’ stories about their diagnosis, treatment and relationships with their medical practitioners. These stories, many of them powerfully emotional, provided a unique perspective of the patient journey in the health care system.

In another activity, students were transformed into patients and their carers and taken through a series of role-plays in the Hospital@ Ormond (played out within Ormond College). Confronted with a busy triage desk complete with an obstreperous drunk man and surly triage nurse, they were interviewed in a foreign language, consented to a procedure they didn’t need, followed lines on the floor that went nowhere and met the now infamous Miss Pain (who proceeded to tear strips off a young resident who had the audacity to ring her). These rather confronting set of role-plays Geoff McColl (MBBS 1985) is Deputy Dean, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, were followed by a debriefing session in which Director of the Medical Education Unit and Professor of Medical Education and Training. students were able to discuss their feelings about the chaos they had encountered in the of this integrated form of learning. The use years with the addition of each new MD Hospital@Ormond. of hand held response devices (clickers) cohort until all four years of medical students engaged each group in the discussion and attend the student conference in 2014 and Providing a balance to these activities, problem solving of these sessions. Running thenceforth. It is envisaged that the students students were inspired by words of wisdom alongside these colloquia are tutorials on themselves will drive much of the student from Michael Kidd (Melbourne MBBS the principles of clinical practice, in which conference program in future. 1983 and Executive Dean of the Faculty of students begin to build the core clinical skills Health Sciences at Flinders University) and of communication, the physical examination The first year of the Melbourne MD has been Hugh Taylor (Harold Mitchell Professor of and clinical reasoning. well launched with an ongoing enthusiasm for Indigenous Eye Health at the University of innovation and student focus as generated in Melbourne) as well as local senior clinicians These sessions are aligned with teaching its development. Challenges lie ahead but the who acted as mentors for each of the groups. on the systems of the bioscience, so that foundation of the MD program is solid. in a single week students will consider, for From week two our students’ view moved example, the physiological causes of shortness from the horizon of graduation and their of breath, practice how to interview a patient future medical career to the more proximal with shortness of breath and learn how to endeavour of acquiring the requisite examine the respiratory system. Integrating biomedical and clinical skills for the first the acquisition of this knowledge with relevant year of the medical program. In a mixed skills will serve the students well in their educational model using case supported future clinical years.

13 chiron From the Students twenty11

From the Students

Foundation Week No Borders, No Boundaries By Kim Yeoh The new MD students attended two dinners After drinks in the courtyard with music from during Foundation Week. The first was a Apollo, the students and mentors reconvened Specialists Without Borders, an Australian- ‘Global Health’ dinner, the brainchild of to enjoy their meal punctuated by an address based not-for-profit organisation, takes volunteer Ormond’s Master Rufus Black. For this dinner from Harold Mitchell Chair of Indigenous Eye health-care professionals to developing countries each student picked a number out of a hat and Health, Hugh Taylor. to meet local healthcare needs through medical was allocated to a table representing either a education. In September 2010, medical student third-world, middle class or affluent country. Kim Yeoh was invited to join a conference in Kigali, Rwanda, run by Australian According to student Brigid Wolf, the meals consultant surgeons for Rwandan doctors. represented: ‘what may be eaten in each of Her experience of working in intensive care as those countries, for instance people allocated a physiotherapist in Melbourne and London to third-world countries, found their dinner allowed her to see intensive care in Rwanda in a on a rug on the floor, with rice and basic meaningful context. curries and a small quantity of food. People in the middle class countries were on tables, Standing in front of Chantal, a three-year-old with more food and perhaps juice, whilst girl with a severe head injury in intensive care the affluent group had a dining experience in Rwanda, I realised she did not have a chance. complete with alcohol, and, I think, steak.’ Kigali University Teaching Hospital is a The dinners, said Brigid, highlighted 400-bed public hospital in the capital of inequalities between people of different Rwanda. The intensive care unit has nine countries, and the random allocation beds and the barest of resources. Disposable symbolised ‘the lottery of life: ‘any of us could gloves and oxygen facemasks are reused, the have been born into poverty or affluence; it arterial blood gas analyser does not work was simply a matter of chance.’ and cannot be fixed and the portable ECG is out of paper. Only five of the nine ventilators The colloquium preceding the dinner focused worked, though all were being used. A on health disparities around the world, with paediatric patient who came in overnight questions about the burden of disease in third was hand-bagged 24-hours-a-day in the world countries, government spending on emergency department. health etc. ‘Interestingly’, Brigid noted, ‘when we were asked: “who from the affluent table, Human resources are equally tight. The chose to give some of their food to the poorer ratio of nurses to patients is 1:4 and only one table?” whilst heaps of food was left on the rich anaesthetist is ever on duty in the hospital tables, only some students had given it to their – responsible for overseeing the ICU, seven poorer colleagues. The dinner was definitely a theatres and fifteen neonatal special care highlight of the week.’ beds. One of the anaesthetists is Jean-Bosco, a self-effacing gentleman who kindly took me Foundation Week ended with the inaugural around the intensive care unit. It is hard not to Melbourne Medical School Dinner, which feel that when critically ill patients in Rwanda introduced the students to the philosophy and survive and go home, it is nothing short of a ethos of the medical school. At a preceding miracle. It is also not difficult to conclude that colloquium students were challenged to many patients simply do not have a chance. define the characteristics of ‘The Good Doctor’, having spent the week looking at Chantal had been hit by a car and sustained different aspects of the doctor's role and were a severe head injury four weeks prior to my encouraged to set their sights on achieving visit to the intensive care unit. She remained that ideal over the next four years. unresponsive with a dense hemiplegia. Her family could not afford to pay the yearly wage

14 and the nurses in the unit to coordinate teaching sessions to meet their local needs.

In 2012 we would like to realise a greater vision to coordinate a more comprehensive program involving a larger interdisciplinary team teaching in intensive care. Antony and I are each at different stages of our medical careers but are working towards achieving the same goal. There are no boundaries: it is simply teaching where it is needed the most.

Kim Yeoh and Antony Tobin outside St Vincent’s Kim Yeoh is a Melbourne University graduate Melissa Lee (centre) with fellow medical student Mithun Hospital in Melbourne before their trip to Rwanda. medical student at the St Vincent’s Hospital Nambiar and 1951 medical graduate Jean Allison at the Clinical School and will be in her final year in party held to launch the 150th Anniversary Program in of US$200 to transport her to the only CT 2012. She is also a graduate of The University of July 2011. scanner in the country to determine the extent Melbourne Bachelor of Physiotherapy and is the of her head injury and whether she required SWB Australian Medical Student Representative. The Med150 Ambassador program will be run surgery. She had not received any neuro- by a student committee of seven, supported by rehabilitation and the window of opportunity Antony Tobin, a 1989 MBBS Melbourne graduate, the faculty, who will recruit a total of 150 other for neuroplasticity was slipping away. A chest is Deputy Director of Intensive Care at St Vincent’s students to become ambassadors at 150th infection had developed and her tracheostomy Hospital in Melbourne. anniversary events, lead alumni on tours and blocked twice. I stood there, thinking that the engage with alumni wherever possible. The most basic skills and knowledge I had learnt For more information about Specialists Without seven students on the committee who lead the as a medical student, and as a physiotherapist Borders go to: www.specialistswithoutborders.org program will benefit from the mentorship of working in intensive care, could have made a senior academics in the University. big difference to Chantal. At the very moment Med150 Ambassadors I was thinking this, Jean-Bosco, in the most By Melissa Lee This mentorship, aimed at expanding humble manner said, ‘if you can come back skills difficult to master in a university or next year and teach in the ICU, we would be The year 2012 marks 150 years of medical hospital setting, such as master of ceremony extremely grateful’. education at the Melbourne Medical School performance skills and speech writing, will (MMS), the oldest medical teaching program also support the students in their roles on the Immediately, I felt this was something I in Australia. To recognise our humble committee; foster a more personal relationship wanted to do: to give something back for beginnings, extensive tradition and the between the student body and faculty; and the privilege and opportunity of studying accomplishment of training some of Australia’s provide an opportunity for students to shadow medicine and for being so lucky to be born in most eminent medical professionals, a their mentor. I look forward to the many a developed country. But I wanted to bring an program of events in 2012 will celebrate this opportunities we will have to celebrate our intensivist with me. historic milestone. Whilst designed to bring sesquicentenary together in 2012 and hope together alumni from home and abroad, the that everyone attending events during our It was not hard to convince Antony Tobin, celebration of the 150th anniversary of the 150th anniversary year will enjoy the presence from the intensive care unit at St Vincent’s MMS would not be complete without the of our current students. Hospital, to teach in Rwanda. I simply spoke involvement of its current students. Students about the patients I had seen in Rwanda and will be engaged in a multi-faceted ambassador Melissa GY Lee is President of the Med150 invited him to come. program for this celebration. Ambassador Program Committee

In September 2011 we taught critical care The Med150 Ambassador Program will bring topics in the Specialists Without Borders together and support a large team of student medical and surgical conference in Rwanda volunteers to act as ambassadors for this and ran bedside teaching sessions in the anniversary. Alumni will have the opportunity Kigali Hospital intensive care unit. We liaised to engage with these future young doctors in closely with Jean-Bosco, the physiotherapists mentoring and professional development roles.

15 chiron From the Students twenty11

It’s a pyrrhic victory. This battle is won, the cord released, but we know the war is already lost.

Peter G Jones stuff. That’s a big tumour, a ditch down the middle, He calls for emergency I gasp. No, the monitor Elective Essay for sure. Pressing on oozing. O negative. The registrar beeps, she’s still alive. the cord’. is pale. The consultant The suction sputters and Each year, students in ‘How old is she, mate?’ grimly tosses the hisses quietly. I peer into their final year of the The tumour has grown he asks. monopolar aside for a the field. medical course are from the vertebral arch; keratin punch, snipping invited to submit essays she needs a laminectomy ‘Seventy-nine,’ the aside mutant, twisted A valley, four fingers’ describing their elective to walk again. Warily, anaesthetist snorts, ‘and fragments of bone, the width, impossibly deep, experience for the Peter the registrar divides the about 40kg.’ tumour-ridden remnants in the middle of Mrs W’s G Jones Elective Essay yellowish mass, keeping of the vertebral arch. back. At the bottom, the Prize supported by the to the midline. Suddenly, ‘Not sure I would have The suction slurps; it pale thecal sac, a dull University of Melbourne blood wells up in the path opened up this one, mate’ has reached two litres. strip of beige tape, starkly Medical Alumni Society of the monopolar. says the consultant. The A ridiculously small bag exposed. The rasped-off and named in memory of registrar nods silently. of blood is hung. The pedicles of five vertebrae Peter G Jones, inaugural ‘Suction, suction!’ he tells The consultant takes up anaesthetist scans the flanking it. And the walls editor of Chiron. me, eyes on the incision, the diathermy. I hover. monitoring, eyes narrow. of the valley, both sides, as he coagulates. This The two surgeons chat The alarms continue solid, sickly tumour, its In the Valley isn’t normal tissue. There about their families. The to ring. creamy bulk singed and By Tamara Vu are thousands of small, anaesthetist keeps his gritty, oozing blood. friable vessels. He grabs eye on the screen. The ‘Can you turn that off?’ I’ve been on neurosurgery the suction; I weakly press ditch widens, deepens, snaps the consultant. It’s a pyrrhic victory. This three weeks when Mrs W with a pack. the blood still welling up, The suction blocks and battle is won, the cord presents to the emergency dutifully suctioned. blood surges up in the released, but we know department, unable to ‘There’s some deepening cavity. The the war is already lost. walk, with a fist-sized bleeding,’ he calls to ‘Wait, look, that’s the consultant snatches off the Again, my eyes sting. This lump in her thoracic the anaesthetist. We spinous process.’ metal endpiece and stuffs woman is going to die. spine. A pinched-faced, reposition the retractors. the plastic cord deep into impossibly elderly Chinese There is a long vertical I can’t see much. An alarm the wound. Not here in this theatre, woman, her progressive furrow in the rubbery goes off, and is silenced. in a deluge of bleeding weakness has never been tumour, filling with They continue to burn ‘I really wouldn’t have too rapid to stem. No, her assessed. We prod the blood: no mere capillary and suck, but the blood is opened her up’ he says, blood pressure will rise, lump. Infection? Surely ooze. The anaesthetic coming faster now. The grim-faced, eyes on hesitantly, but surely, it’s a tumour. machine is beeping; the machine alarms. The the field. as the registrar sutures anaesthetist exclaims. anaesthetist pokes his together the walls of the That night, in the head back over the green The suction splutters as valley, tumour to tumour, emergency theatre, her ‘Ease up, she hasn’t got drape: the blood pressure the pool empties. The with thick purple nylon. operation. The registrar much to spare!’ The is dropping. anaesthetist hangs a bag Her pulse will settle. makes a confident vertical registrar looks worried. of saline. The systolic She’ll wake. incision. Immediately, The pool continues to “How much is in the is hovering at 78. The thick, yellow, foul- well up. suction?” A nurse checks. registrar jabs down with No, she will die later this smelling fluid gushes A litre and a half. the now-unblocked sucker. month. After a silent from the incision and the ‘We might need some infarct on the ward. lump abruptly deflates. help.’ The on-call “I haven’t used much ‘Easy, that’s the cord!’ After a resigned transfer The registrar gasps and consultant is requested. wash,’ says the registrar, down to palliative care. drops the scalpel into peering worriedly into the ‘I know, I know.’ Burn, After days of confusion a yellow tray; I lunge ‘What’s going on?’ He’s wound. There is no talk of spit, suction, burn again. and pain. She’ll die for suction and exclaim quite young; he was on children and holidays, no Smoke hangs in the air. disoriented, afraid, unable as the fluid spills onto his way to the beach with jokes now. to walk, red and yellow the drapes. his kids. I think, with a jolt, of fluid still oozing from They move faster with the Mrs W’s ancient, silent her wound. We explore the cavity. It’s ‘It’s all tumour. Big cystic monopolar, the suction, husband, and her son, a big cyst, floored with cavity, drained that, just but the blood is gushing waiting outside. My eyes We silently close, a neat heterogenous, grey-white, drying to dissect down now, filling the ditch, sting. The blood pressure row of horizontally locked malevolent tissue. to the cord, but there’s blocking our view of the is perilously low. The sutures through skin that a bit of bleeding.’ The diathermy tip. wavering capnograph trace barely bridges the residual ‘See that? All tumour,’ anaesthetist weighs in. rises. Then, they stop. tumour. She’s wheeled, the registrar says, ‘Suction, suction,’ barks fragile, tiny, to recovery, appraisingly. I poke a ‘Her BP’s dropping’. The the consultant. ‘We’re done, mate’, and we bid each other a finger tentatively into consultant scrubs and ramming the diathermy bleak goodnight. the cavity. Was that pus? returns to assess the ‘She’s at 80 systolic,’ the into a quiver. ‘Probably just necrotic expanse of grey tumour, anaesthetist, warningly.

16 I walk home in the dark, my thoughts in We that horrible, bleeding valley. Closed over sell out but still growing; consuming our patient annually to a from within. full house via word- of-mouth. In other words, All essays submitted for the Peter G Jones we beg our friends and family Elective Essay Prize in 2011 can be found unyieldingly to come and to bring as on the Melbourne Medical School’s 150th many people as possible. website at: http://medicine150.mdhs. unimelb.edu.au Over the years our collaborative minds have brought out such shows as ‘The Med ‘Medleys’ Revue – Derryn Hinchi Code’, ‘Mortal Wombat’ an invitation to alumni and last year’s show, ‘The Dalai wears Llama’. This year was no exception, with By Yiannis Efstathiadis ‘Lock, stock and two smoking squirrels’ (no squirrels, locks or stock portfolios were “I came here to this country with nothing: harmed in the making of this title). now, I have everything I ever wanted”. So my grandfather would proclaim as Next year, as most of you would know, That is us, in a nutshell: past, present and he regaled us with his tales of character- is the Melbourne medical school’s 150th future. We look forward to meeting many building episodes from his migration anniversary: a momentous occasion to alumni during our 150th anniversary year from Greece to Australia, and how he built be celebrated. And guess what? We’ve and hope that many of you can make it to a life around such hardships. I’m sure if been asked to be a part of it! So next the Med Revue. the Med Revue could speak it would tell year, the Med Revue will be a part of the a similar saga: possibly with less of an celebrations, part of the big party. Are you Yiannis Efstathiadis is in the first cohort ethnic accent. excited? Because we are! Our enthusiasm of students in the new MD course. is increased by the prospect of performing Approximately ninety years ago the Med not only for our regular audience, but also Revue began as the Med Medleys, a for the medical school alumni. humble half-time show, exclusively for medical students at the University of This is where I will ask for your input: we Alumni interested in being Melbourne Medical Ball. Over the ensuing are looking for alumni to aid in the show involved in the 150th Anniversary years (a few lost, possibly to the Second next year. We realise that you all have jobs Med Revue should contact: World War) with the help of some very and are very busy but hope you will match funny people and dedicated students, our enthusiasm to be part of this once-in- Andi Jansz-Gallent the show has evolved to become its own a-lifetime occasion. 150th Anniversary office entity, doing what it does best: making 4th floor, 766 Elizabeth Street people laugh. What we are looking for is: University of Melbourne 3010 E: [email protected] The Revue is run by medical students and Mentorship: it would be an amazing T: (+61 3) 9035 3861 students in courses related to medicine experience for current students to learn (biomedicine and science). The audition from the comedic giants of the past – process is arduous. Great character and in both acting techniques as well as much spiritual and mental resolve is comedic materials. The plan is to run required: hopeful performers must show some workshop style sessions or for up at the first few rehearsals. Over the alumni to help us write sketches. years this lack of audition has attracted the meek and mild, who through plenty Performance involvement: This is still of rehearsal, bloom when it comes time under review, but we may have the to perform. We are regularly blessed with capacity to expand our cast to include actors and stage crew who not only want alumni. to have fun, but are genuinely dedicated to the show. Financial assistance: Yes, yes I know, nobody likes talking about money. Every year we perform three nights of However, when it comes down to it, the non-stop side-splitting, comedy routines Med Revue is a non-profit organisation. that are sure to keep you giggling at We bring our audience laughter and the memory until next year’s show, and all our proceeds go to a charity that we often beyond. nominate early each year.

17 chiron Alumni Stories twenty11

Alumni Stories

PICTURES WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS Scholars Return

Photographs are a way of tracing the past, of accessing the stories Kate Robson and Ye Chen, – the plans, the possibilities, the promises – of days gone by. Just recently returned to Melbourne as every home has its collection of photos – in albums, in frames from Oxford, reflect on their and nowadays, on computers – we want to expand our collection of time as Rhodes Scholars. Ye photos which tell stories about our alumni. Chen is pictured right with fellow Australian Rhodes If you have photos from your student days that you think would Scholars and ex-President of the interest other alumni or contribute to a visual archive of the Australian Senate Paul Calvert Melbourne Medical School please contact Andi Jansz Gallent of the at The Eagle and Child in St MMS 150th Anniversary Team at: Giles’, Oxford.

Advancement and Communications For Ye, the Rhodes Scholarship was an opportunity to undertake a DPhil Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences in Transplantation Immunology with Professor Herman Waldmann, The University of Melbourne well-known for his pioneering work on the CAMPATH-1 antibody and Level 4, 766 Elizabeth Street for discovering seminal concepts in transplantation tolerance such Victoria 3010 Australia as ‘infectious tolerance’. His exploration of the in vitro and in vivo E: [email protected] characteristics of a specialised group of tolerance-inducing T cells was T: (+61 3) 9035 3861 published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine. Other advantages included the richly stimulating environment at Oxford (giving recitals Tennis Anyone? This picture, sent in at the Holywell Music Room and playing Australian Rules Football for by Lorraine Baker (MBBS 1979), is of Oxford against Cambridge). the MBBS class of 1979, taken in late March 1978, on the last day of their ‘The experience has been deeply enriching and I am keen to apply the Obstetrics and Gynaecology rotation knowledge and skills in my chosen field of Ophthalmology’ says Ye. at the Mercy Hospital. Kate’s Scholarship enabled her to spend two stimulating years researching a MPhil in History of Medicine, based at the Wellcome Unit for History of Medicine.

Her thesis on the history of chronic illness in medical institutions explored the nineteenth-century concept of the ‘incurable’ patient, tracing the development of prejudices that persist in clinical practice today. Kate says she found the most rewarding realisation ‘that many aspects of our work we consider as entrenched traditions are, in fact, products of relatively recent change. There is great potential for ongoing reappraisal of how we ‘care’ for or ‘cure’ the growing burden of chronic illness.’

‘This experience has reinforced my appreciation of how the historical origins of the medical profession can shed light on contemporary questions, such as the future evolution of our professional identity, or the shifting foundations of our healthcare system. This is a thriving sphere of debate from which clinicians are at risk of becoming increasingly isolated as the technical demands of our specialties increase.’ Doris Young and James Best at their Geoff McColl's graduation photo, graduation in December 1972. Doris taken in 1985, reproduced courtesy Excited about celebrating our rich local history with the 150th anniversary remembers that after the ceremony of his mother. of our medical school, Kate encourages medical practitioners and students they went to Union House for drinks to delve into our history and grapple with the big-picture questions that and that her parents travelled from shape our profession. Hong Kong to attend the ceremony.

18 Over two weeks in February the excited children arrived, class by class, for their checks. Really, Nigel’s job was the hardest of all, as the assistants had to weigh, measure and check the visual acuity of each child before lining them up to wait ‘quietly’ for the doctor. It was wonderful to watch my 6’2” son high-fiving the tiny preppies when measuring was complete, and the all important reward sticker had been placed on the backs of their hands.

With very little time available for individual examinations and an inability to undress the children, each doctor took a brief medical history, examined hair and skin, conjunctivae, ears, teeth, throat and chest, and recorded all examination findings for the database. Any abnormalities were reported to the school nurse who communicates directly with the parents of the child. It was made clear to us that we were not there to treat the children.

The children were on the whole remarkably healthy, especially those in the senior classes, who had been recipients of daily healthy meals over several years. Previous health checks had reported a prevalence of systolic murmurs Jenny Hayes and son Nigel (left) on safari in the Serengeti during their weekend off. and anaemia but the addition of mchicha, a green leafy vegetable, to the daily menu and establishment of a rigorous worming schedule A family trip with a difference board at the school. In addition, the school seemed to have reduced the incidence. There By Jenny Hayes employs 340 locals and purchases essential were many cases of fluorosis and poor dental goods from the local community. hygiene, the usual skin rashes, earwax and It’s a long time since I was in clinical practice! reasonably well-controlled asthma. Some of Each child receives an annual health check, the children are HIV positive. Since graduating as part of the University of provided by a team of volunteer health Melbourne MBBS class in 1982 I have spent professionals, usually responding to requests It was a privilege to be part of daily life at St most of my career lecturing in Anatomy. So it for help disseminated via the monthly Jude. We lived in the visitors’ accommodation, was with significant trepidation that I located newsletter and word-of-mouth. Thus it was ate lunch with the students, sat in on junior my stethoscope in January of this year and that my son Nigel (a second year Monash Law/ and senior assembly and boarded the brightly boarded the flight to Arusha, Tanzania, en Performing Arts student) and I joined the painted school bus trip home with the junior route to the School of St Jude. 2011 team of four doctors, two nurses and five students, before debriefing over staff drinks assistants. Our aim as a team was not only to at the tin shed watering hole by the front St Jude’s was founded in 2002 by Gemma examine each of the 1500 children, but also gate after school. It was such a wonderful Sisia, also a University of Melbourne graduate. to establish a database and equipment kit for experience for Nigel and me; we can’t wait to It is a charity funded school offering a free future visiting teams. Kind family, friends go back! quality education to over 1500 of the poorest and colleagues donated stadiometers and eye children of Arusha and boarding for over 900 charts so that in the future measurements Jenny Hayes is a Senior Lecturer in the of those. The students from prep to grade two can be taken using the same, good Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, arrive on buses each day, the older children quality equipment. University of Melbourne

19 chiron Alumni Stories twenty11

some burns caused by the explosion of inferior kerosene, said to have been purchased from Messrs. McEwan and Co., of Melbourne’. The jury added that: ‘there was not the ordinary precautions, observed in not applying the usual simple test that the vendor was aware of’.

This verdict prompted a kind of moral panic among the populace of Melbourne. Letters appeared in the press from people signing themselves ‘Safety-Lamp’ or ‘Fireman’ asking for or proffering advice about the safety of kerosene.

Later that month Macadam tabled an additional report to the city council, published in The Argus, which set out in detail the results of his analysis of samples taken from kerosene dealers around Melbourne, under two headings: ‘Safe Samples’ and ‘Dangerous Samples’ and including the names and addresses of dealers, the results, and his conclusions.

The moral panic became a kind of media storm as kerosene merchants sought to defend themselves, and competing and DR MACADAM’S FINEST BUBBLE,—JUST “BLOWN”’ appeared in the Melbourne Punch of 7 August 1862. dissenting expert opinions were sought. The debate persisted, with counter claims and John Macadam – A Busy Man Secretary to the Royal Society; and Secretary justifications in the press over many months. By Liz Brentnall to the Victorian Exhibition of 1861, held by the Royal Society to prepare for inclusion in the In a furious debate between local businesses They say that if you want something done, ask London International Exhibition of 1862. with profit margins to protect, and a a busy person to do it. comprehensive body of independently A busy man indeed, and likely to attract a little compiled expert evidence, Melbourne Punch In John Macadam’s short, busy life his public controversy. knew which side its bread was buttered, and ten years spent in Melbourne had a sided with business. The Punch cartoon considerable impact upon the city and its The cartoon, ‘DR MACADAM’S FINEST was accompanied by a satirical play, a medical community. BUBBLE,—JUST “BLOWN”’ appeared in the ‘farce’, in which Macadam, as ‘McHaggis’, Melbourne Punch of 7 August 1862. Why mock confuses kerosene with brandy and ends Arriving in 1855 to take up a position teaching this doctor, so active in the city’s public and up in court, with a black eye, to hear the chemistry at Scotch College, Macadam also professional life? magistrate pronounce the following verdict on became the Melbourne Medical School’s his conduct: first lecturer, in chemistry, in 1862. His In July 1862 an inquest was held into the professional activities, however, reached death of Mary McGee, wife of an engineer at Dr Barnum Blepheger Du Barry McHaggis, well beyond these roles: twice member for Emerald Hill, who had died in an explosion. the Bench consider you fairly convicted Castlemaine in the Victorian Parliament; After an adjournment for Macadam to test of a vast deal of humbug, tomfoolery and Postmaster General for a short time; the kerosene available throughout the city, mischief-making in scheming for your Government Analytical Chemist and Health he gave detailed evidence to the inquest that own personal advantage under pretence of Officer for the ; Honorary led to a verdict that Mary McGee ‘died from protecting the public. As, however, we are of

20 the opinion that the official body by whom James Jamieson – A Clinical Legacy you were engaged ought to have known By Liz Brentnall better than to give you the chance, and are much to blame for so doing, and as you A century ago this year, the first Jamieson have been already roughly handled by an Prize was awarded, to Francis Esmond Keane, irate populace, the Bench have concluded a final year medical student at the University to set you at liberty. You will, however, be of Melbourne. As now, the prize went to the required to give security for your future graduating student judged as having the best more sensible behaviour by resigning the clinical skills of their year. situation of guardian of the salus populi, which you at present hold and enjoy. James Jamieson (1840-1916) was born in and educated in medicine, under the In the play, the injured publicans and influence of Joseph Lister, at the University of kerosene dealers then ‘adjourn to the nearest Glasgow. He migrated to Australia in 1868, hostelrie for cheerful conversation and working in general practice, in public health fermented refreshment’. and at the local hospital in Warrnambool before moving to Melbourne in 1877. The accusation of scheming for his own personal advantage arose perhaps out of a His career encompassed appointments at letter from Richard Eades, MB, Chairman of the Royal Melbourne and Alfred Hospitals, the Committee of Health, which The Argus a period as health officer for the City of published on 15 July. The letter attempts Melbourne, as editor of the AMJ (1883-87), and to quell the panic amongst the people of lecturing to Melbourne medical students— in Melbourne by alerting them to a discovery, obstetrics and diseases of women and children James Jamieson, 1901, courtesy Royal Society made by Macadam after presenting his initial (1879-87) and in the theory and practice of of Victoria. report, for rendering the kerosene ‘quite safe’. medicine (1887-1908). Jamieson died in 1916, survived by a son John Macadam’s formidable reputation must The Prize was endowed upon Jamieson's and two daughters. His daughter Margaret also have extended at least as far as New retirement from teaching, partly by a graduated in medicine, in 1906, as did her Zealand as it was during passage to Dunedin, contribution from his family but also, notably, daughters, Mildred and Jean, in 1934 and 1937 to appear as an expert witness in a criminal by subscriptions from his students. On 21 respectively. Jamieson's grandaughters topped case in 1865, that he died. June 1910, among a number of proposals due up their grandfather’s prize with a gift of £300 for consideration by the University Senate, was in 1960. According to John Drummond Kirkland, a the following: medical student who was assisting Macadam There are wealthier prizes available to on the voyage, he had been taken unwell Regulation for the “Jamieson Prize” Melbourne medical students but the Jamieson soon after setting out. At one point he called in clinical medicine. The fund for the Prize in Clinical Medicine is distinguished for the Captain, to whom he gave his watch, establishment of this prize has been by the personal contributions made by his diamond ring and described some other subscribed by some of those who attended Jamieson’s students and grandchildren. property he had on board. He was found the lectures of Dr. James Jamieson during These individuals, recognising the influence dead in his bed the next morning. The the period of thirty years, in order to Jamieson had on the development of critical verdict returned by the jury in Otago was that provide a memorial of the services of Dr. practical skills and the resultant quality of Macadam: ‘died by the visitation of God, in a Jamieson as lecturer in medicine. This their practice, saw fit to honour those skills natural way—to wit, of excessive debility and prize will be awarded annually, at the final and this teacher for generations to come. general exhaustion.’ honour examination, to the candidate who obtains the highest marks in the subject of With gratitude to Greg de Moore for alerting clinical medicine. me to the existence of this cartoon and the story surrounding it.

21 chiron Obituaries twenty11

Obituaries Recorded with regret, the passing of…

Margaret Archer (MBBS 1948) Beryl Jack (MBBS 1951) Rex Bennett (MBBS 1961) John Kelly (MD 1953, MBBS 1949) Norris Bennett (MBBS 1963) Frantisek Kopecek (MBBS 1959) Simon Bernard (MD 2009, MBBS 1990) Keith Lipshut (MBBS 1943) Peter Bird (MBBS 1941) David Lowenstern (Grad Dip Psyc 1987, MBBS 1979) Peter Blaubaum (MBBS 1944) Peter Lowenthal (MBBS 1953) Mary Bremner (GDip– Ophth 1955, MBBS 1949) Peter MacCallum (MBBS 1954) Ida Bell Broderick (Matthews) (BSc (Hons) 1940, MBBS 1944, Pulteney Malcolm (MBBS 1962) GDipArts (Crim) 1982, BA 1991) Leslie Markman (MBBS 1968) Ian Chau (MBBS 1975) Alex Marshall (MBBS 1953) Dorothy Cole (MBBS 1952) Robert Marshall (MD 2006, MS 1954, MBBS 1948) Noel Colin-Thome (PGDip Periop Crit Care Echo 2006, MBBS 1985) Lesley Mitchell (MBBS 1981) Ian Collins (MBBS 1949) Vin Nursey (MBBS 1953) Colin Copland (MBBS 1944) John O’Brien (MBBS 1955) Robert Currie (MBBS 1953) Audrey Officer (MBBS 1949) Francis De Crespigny (MBBS 1941) David O’Sullivan (MBBS 1953) George E Doery (MBBS 1949) Ronald Peeke (MBBS 1951) William Doig (MBBS 1946) Emil Popovic (MBBS 1980) Gerald Duff (MBBS 1957) Francis Robinson (MBBS 1949) Ronald Eisner (MBBS 1968) Graeme Salter (MBBS 1939) Alexe Elder (Gale) (BSc 1941, MBBS 1941, DipO&G 1947) Arthur Schwieger (MD 1948, MBBS 1942) Bryan Galbally (MBBS 1949) Robert Sellwood (MBBS 1943) John Gallent (MBBS 1948) Wolfgang Siegel (MBBS 1955) James Gardiner (MD 1948, MBBS 1945) Angela Spiers (Marks) (MBBS 1950) Oronsay Goodwach (MBBS 1964) William Spring (G/Dip– Diag Radiol 1956, MBBS 1943) George Hale (MD 1959, MBBS 1953) Cecily Statham (MBBS 1946, BA 1941) Allan Hall (MBBS 1944) John Stephens (LLB 1991, MBBS 1966) Eric Henry (MBBS 1950) John Sullivan (MD 1979, MBBS 1967) Kevin Hinrichson (MBBS 1946) Peter Tisdall (MBBS 1963) Brian Hoare (MBBS 1953) Murray Verso (MBBS 1940) Kathleen Hockey-McComb (MBBS 1947) Saul Wiener (MD 1960, PhD1953, MBBS 1947) Bernard Hodgkinson (MBBS 1959) Edwin Carlyle Wood (MBBS 1952) Dorothy Hurley (MBBS 1945)

Contributions

We are interested to receive and publish obituaries of Melbourne medical alumni, in Chiron and on our website.

Please contact or send obituaries to: Liz Brentnall, Editor, Chiron, 4th Floor, 766 Elizabeth Street, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010. T: (+61 3) 8344 5325 E: [email protected]

22 before accepting a position in clinical supervisor for fourth year ICU and cardiovascular surgery at students on rotation from RMH, the Hamilton Hospital, Ontario, and training junior doctors. He is Canada. This was the stimulus fondly remembered by many for for Rex to take on a career in his enthusiasm and excellence as anaesthetics and resuscitation. He a teacher. headed to the UK taking a post in anaesthetics at Harold Wood One student, now Professor Kate Hospital, Essex, then another at St Leslie, remembers: Mary’s Hospital, London. I remember my internship at Returning to Australia, Rex took Horsham Base Hospital with great on the position of Anaesthetist fondness. It was my first rotation Rex Bennett, Photo courtesy of and Resuscitation Officer at the (in 1986) and the day I arrived Simon Bernard Wimmera Base Hospital Gippsland Base Hospital in Sale. was very hot and dry. We drove He was instrumental in setting up into town not knowing where the Simon Bernard Rex C Bennett the hospital’s ICU and was civilian hospital was, but soon worked 1967—2011 1937—2011 consultant to the nearby RAAF out it was the only multi-story base. His life took a dramatic turn building in town. As soon as we got Simon Bernard, a Melbourne plastic Rex Bennett was born in Melbourne in 1968 when he was flown to down to work with Rex and Eddie and reconstructive surgeon, died in 1937. After a childhood spent attend to casualties on an Esso gas Brownstein everything turned suddenly of heart disease aged 43. in various Victorian towns, he drilling rig in Bass Strait where a out okay. Rex was a very gifted attended University High School helicopter had crashed, seriously teacher and an expert and calm The son of Eugene, a Melbourne where he was a Herald-Sun Youth injuring a number of pressmen anaesthetist, and I know that Eddie GP and Holocaust survivor and Traveller to UK 1952, graduating gathered on the platform. A and the other surgeons trusted him Patricia, a pharmacist, Simon was with a Daffyd Lewis Scholarship. ‘universal donor’, he arranged for implicitly. I owe a great debt of raised in Melbourne and attended a direct blood transfusion from gratitude to Rex for inspiring me to Scotch College where he excelled From our first meeting, in the old himself to one of the more critically take up anaesthesia, as I have found academically, gaining entry to Anatomy School in 1958, Rex and injured victims. it a very fulfilling career. Medicine at Melbourne University I remained close friends. I soon in 1985. learnt he was a very competent In 1969 Rex married Judy, a theatre In 1996 Rex and Judy retired drummer – he was an annual sister he had met at St Mary’s. to the UK to be closer to their Simon thrived at University and feature on the stage in the ‘Med They moved to Murwillumbah daughter. He kept up his interest was much loved by his fellow Medleys’ band. He had a great in northern NSW, then back in photography and fostered students. His love and talent for flare for photography – still and to Victoria, to the Mornington another interest in steam and anatomy were rewarded with his movie – with his own photographic Peninsula. Here he was a civilian model railways. Following a brief naming as a prosector in anatomy laboratory at home, and loved cars consultant to RAN Cerberus and acute illness Rex passed away in in 1986. While at University, Simon being a proud owner of a ‘Morgan’. earned the respect, acclaim and January 2011. He willed his body indulged his love of performance, We spent many an enjoyable gratitude of his peers – surgeons to Sheffield University for ongoing as a member of both the medical Saturday or Sunday watching the and GPs alike. scientific teaching and research. He and law revues in his early years. hill-climb competitions in the is survived by his loving wife, Judy, His outgoing personality, accurate Dandenong Ranges. Rex and Judy’s decision to return and their daughter, Fahlea. impersonations (especially of to the UK in 1976 was a great lecturers) and talent for slightly Suffering a slipped epiphysis at disappointment to his patients, Rex is sadly missed by all who knew goofy comedy shone. Recitals of twelve, Rex was only friends and colleagues on the him well. of favourite scenes from Monty the second patient to receive a hip Peninsula. Their return was Python’s Holy Grail and his versions replacement at the ‘old’ Children’s short-lived however as they soon Gordon Matthews, MBBS 1961 of Bob Hawke, Don Chipp and Hospital in Carlton. Sixty-one years returned to Australia, settling in John Cain entertained friends for later the replacement was still Horsham where Rex was Director of years to come. He graduated in intact, probably making it one of the Anaesthesia at the Wimmera Base 1990 with the Stirling Prize in longest surviving hip replacements Hospital until his retirement in Clinical Surgery amongst other on record. The replacement did not 1996. Again, he was responsible for academic prizes. impede his active life until a couple setting up an ICU/pain clinic in the of years ago, when he became hospital – he truly believed no-one After two years resident at the Royal wheelchair bound. should endure pain. Melbourne Hospital, Simon spent 1993 demonstrating in anatomy and After graduation Rex spent a year at In Horsham, Rex indulged his physiology back at the University. the Footscray and District Hospital deep passion for teaching as On returning to the hospital to

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continue his residency, Simon met and skiing, a pastime Simon had paediatrics and later women’s and including a time as President of the Julie, an engineering graduate from enjoyed since student days, became public health with residencies at St Victorian Medical Women’s Society. Ann Arbour in Michigan, who had a favourite with the family. Vincent’s, the Queen Victoria and Her special interest in women in moved to Australia to undertake an the Royal Children’s Hospitals. prison, particularly those mothering MBA at Melbourne University. Simon is survived by Julie, children, saw her serve as a member Madeline, Max and Hugo, by his After their marriage in 1948, Bell of the Victorian Women’s Prison This wonderful period in his mother Pat, and his brother Andrew and Rodney purchased a family Council, working closely with Dame life was interrupted when he and sister Lisa. home in East Kew and began their Phyllis Frost, a PLC colleague, to was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s married life. Bell adored the new improve the lot of women inside. lymphoma. Simon’s medical career This account was put together house and life with Rodney and She advocated successfully for was put on hold while he underwent by a number of Simon’s friends wanted to make it a family home. women’s rights to keep their babies chemotherapy and radiotherapy. and colleagues. To her great regret, however, she when entering prison and helped A tribute to Simon’s amazing was unable to have children. So develop parenting programs for personality and the support of Julie the young female doctor and the them, at a time when most people is that, aside from some hair and agricultural-horticultural journalist were shocked at the thought of weight loss, many of his friends adopted four. babies in prison. noted little change in his positive outlook and sense of humour. Bell’s life revolved around family In her later years, Bell worked four and work. In order to continue days a week counselling women Simon and Julie were married in working while the children were suffering post-natal depression San Diego at the end of 1995. On young, they employed live-in at the Grey Sisters in Canterbury, returning to Melbourne, Simon was mothercraft nurses, most of whom retiring from the role aged 83 in selected for advanced training in remained family friends. December 2002. In addition, for plastic and reconstructive surgery. some time Bell also held a part-time Their first child, Madeline, born in In 1951, Bell joined the Melbourne position in the post-natal disorders 1996, was followed in subsequent City Council as a medical officer clinic at the Mercy Hospital years by Max and Hugo. Despite the Ida Bell Broderick in communicable diseases. for Women. demands of working long hours and Subsequently, as medical officer for continuous study, Simon still found Ida Bell Broderick maternal and child welfare, she was Bell had a special ability to not the time and energy to be with (Matthews) OAM instrumental in developing infant worry about things that she could Julie and play an important role in welfare centres in inner Melbourne. not change. She was a master at raising their children. 1919—2011 organising the world around her Eventually Bell was appointed and created her own universe and On completing surgical training, After finishing her secondary Chief Medical Officer for the City reality and censored it as required. Simon established his practice in schooling at PLC, Bell Broderick of Melbourne. In the hundred or so This could be maddening – when plastic and reconstructive surgery, wanted to become a veterinarian. years the position existed, she was Bell snapped her fingers everyone with public hospital appointments With no degree course available the final incumbent, and the only came running – but when she at the Royal Melbourne and the then in Melbourne, and her father woman to ever hold it. thanked them with that lovely smile Northern hospitals. His relaxed and unwilling to have her travelling they never seemed to mind. self-effacing manner disguised a to Sydney alone, she commenced In addition to family and medicine, dedication to both his patients and a science course at Melbourne Bell was a passionate scholar. In Bell also mastered the art of his work that resulted in a thriving University. During these years Bell addition to her science honours and illusion: she could turn night into practice and the love and respect of met fellow science student Rodney medicine degrees from Melbourne day. She could find the best in patients and colleagues. Somehow Matthews, whom she eventually University, Bell also completed a everyone and never held grudges. he found time to complete a married in 1948, Rodney having Diploma in Child Health in London, She didn't care about appearances: Doctorate of Medicine under the spent three-and-a-half years as a a Bachelor of Arts and a Diploma clothes and make-up or how guidance of Professor Ian Taylor. Japanese prisoner of war in Changi. in Criminology at Melbourne someone spoke counted for nothing. The only man she ever loved, Bell University, and, at 70 years of age a She filtered information and usually Established in practice and free was attracted by his voice and Master of Psychological Medicine. only ever accepted the good: the of the restrictions that ten years sought his assistance with her Bell’s interest in preventive serious criminal may have had of medical training had imposed, studies, pretending to need help, medicine, particularly as it applied a difficult childhood; the slack, Simon indulged his greatest passion so they could spend time alone. to women and children, led to under-performing child was good – time with Julie and the children. After completing a science honours scholarships and overseas travel to at something else and of course the With Julie’s family in the USA and degree, Bell entered medicine, like further her knowledge in that field Royal Family could do no wrong. Simon’s auntie Alice and cousin her brother Warren. and in maternal and child health. Netta in Israel, as well as friends On the dreadful day Bell’s health scattered over most continents, few After graduating in 1944, Bell She served on a plethora of boards collapsed and she was hospitalised, opportunities to travel were missed focused her career first on and committees during her career two days before her death, the

24 Emergency Department doctor Jones the Professor of Anatomy, children. Alexe was a medical In ‘retirement’ Alexe travelled, asked me if mum had ever worked. who encouraged her to pursue a officer at various state psychiatric taught at the University of the I told her mum was a retired doctor, career in medicine. Among the clinics over many years, developed Third Age and was involved in we talked about her career and I many lifelong friends she made at a great interest in marriage the philosophy circle, positive mentioned that Bell had been one University was her future husband, counselling and was involved with aging and writing groups at the of only four women in her year. Her Nairne Elder. They met towards the Marriage Guidance Council of Lyceum Club. She is survived by eyes widened with respect. ‘Your the end of third year medicine, Victoria for many decades. five of her six children (her second mother was a medical pioneer’ she completed their clinical studies daughter, Cathy, died in 1969), said turning towards the nurse. In at the Alfred Hospital and, after About the time that Alexe turned 15 grandchildren and ten great- turn, at the end of her own shift, graduating in 1941, were married 60, when most of us are thinking of grandchildren. that nurse told the new nurse while undertaking their short winding down, she started a private commencing duty, ‘this lady is a internship there. Married residents practice. Conducted from her study James Elder, MBBS 1981 medical pioneer’. I felt immensely were new for hospitals: Alexe was at home, she continued seeing proud though I knew that Bell meant to live in the nurses’ home patients into her early 80s. This Kevin Hinrichsen would never have done that herself. and Nairne in residents’ quarters. practice was highly regarded. She 1924—2011 Her modesty and unpretentiousness Their married life thus began with was a consummate clinician when it ensured that, in her eyes, she some minor obstacles although came to psychological medicine and Kevin William Hinrichsen was was genuinely no different to bigger ones were just around the one of the few medical practitioners born on 7 December 1924, the anyone else. corner. After an internship of eight in Melbourne who provided eldest child of William Henry months, Nairne joined the army specialised marriage counselling Hinrichsen, a Church of Christ Gordon Matthews, MBBS 1961 and was away for the remainder and sexual therapy for couples in minister and general practitioner of the Second World War: three the 1970s and 80s. at Thornbury, and Florence (nee difficult years. Hall), a schoolteacher. His later Alexe was never shy of exploring schooling was at Scotch College After finishing her residency, the human condition. She read where he was an outstanding Alexe moved to the Queen Victoria incredibly widely in the areas of under age athlete and footballer. Hospital where she undertook medicine, psychology, psychiatry, His usual method of training was further training completing philosophy and religion in an running against the cable trams a diploma of gynaecology and attempt to better understand people and, for stamina, trying to race obstetrics. Her first son, born while and the way they reacted to their one from Clifton Hill up Ruckers she was working there, lived with lives. The list of therapies she Hill to Thornbury! her in the nurses’ home for his first studied to help her patients was long two years. and included elements of Freudian After matriculating in year psychoanalysis, Jungian analysis, eleven, Kevin commenced his With the war over, a normal life transactional analysis, psycho- medical course in 1941, the Alexe Elder (Gale) recommenced in Ivanhoe and, with drama, primal scream therapy, course shortened to five years at a growing family Alexe’s career Gestalt therapy, rational emotive the expense of holidays as the Alexandria Helen Elder took a different direction. Some therapy, art therapy and hypnosis. war was in progress. He spent (Gale) enlightened hospital administrator the latter part of his course in came up with the idea of shared Some of this led to rather amusing residence at Ormond College and 1914—2010 obstetric care in the middle of left-field theories not the least of was the youngest ever to graduate last century and Alexe provided which was her twelve-foot-long in medicine at the University Alexe was the oldest of four antenatal and postnatal care in stethoscope: for listening to people’s of Melbourne, aged 21 years children, raised in a loving clinics attached to maternal and bowel sounds while she interviewed and 3 months on the day of his Presbyterian family whose parents child health centres. She also was them. Clearly the hypothesis was graduation. His two brothers worked hard in their grocery store the Victorian State Venereologist that there would be some giveaway Ian and Gordon, and his sister to ensure their children’s good and Medical Officer at Fairley change in the nature of their Gladys, were all later graduates education. After matriculating from Women’s Prison in Fairfield. abdominal rumblings. No-one was of Melbourne. Presbyterian Ladies College, Alexe ever too clear how long this line of commenced at the University of Perhaps something about the thought lasted. Following his graduation, Kevin Melbourne where, with her passion combination of caring for women became a resident at the Royal and love of all things living, it was in this variety of settings directed Alexe was an active member of Perth Hospital, a registrar the natural she study science with an Alexe’s later career decisions. the Medical Women’s Society following year and in 1949 interest in biology. During the 1960s she completed and the National Council of was made Assistant Medical requirements of the Diploma of Women for many years, providing Superintendent. He decided on Although Alexe intended becoming Psychiatric Medicine, except the mentorship to younger female a surgical career and travelled a teacher, upon joining the McCoy twelve month residential component medical graduates. to London where he passed the Society she met Freddy Wood- – a big ask for a woman with six examinations for his FRCS.

25 chiron Obituaries twenty11

Following this he held registrar In 1975 the early signs of Kevin was taken yachting by one allowed to study medicine, taught in positions in England, the last Dupuytren’s Contracture of his patients, and soon developed German, however – some work was with the Surgeon to the Royal appeared in Kevin’s right hand a love for the sea. For some years done in Brno, some in Vienna – and Family, gaining much experience; and he decided to retire from he crewed, but then bought a he finished his course in 1948. By ‘practicing on the Poms’ as it was surgery and enter the business thirty-foot yacht, Trilby II. He then the Nazis had been replaced by always called. world. He went back to basics and was a member first at the Royal the Communists and Frank, facing attended several courses, but it Melbourne Yacht Squadron, and persecution for his Christian beliefs, Kevin returned to Melbourne wasn’t long before some of those then the Royal Victoria Yacht Club. was excluded from university. in 1955 and soon passed in his group were wondering who Kevin and Trilby II were successful examinations for his FRACS. should be giving the lectures. in inter-club competitions, Bass He decided to disappear, using false Following this he became an Straight racing, and competed papers in the name of Schneider, honorary assistant surgeon at the In addition to other business and in the 1971 Sydney to Hobart, travelling first to the Russian Alfred Hospital working with farming activities at Hallam, when Trilby II was the smallest Zone of Vienna and thence to the Alwynne Rowlands and Graeme Kevin developed a car and ever entrant at the time. In later French, where he worked for the Grove, with whom he had a long medical equipment leasing years, Kevin chaired the Protest French occupying authority. A association. He also became an business, which he used to Committee for both the RMYS and subject of interest to the French honorary surgeon at the Austin help his colleagues who had RYCV, and was also in charge at Secret Service, British MI5, and the Hospital, and later chaired the ‘seen better days’, as well as the two world championship regattas. American CIA, he must have been Department of Surgery. As Aboriginal community. In his Although capable of making hard considered okay. these appointments were strictly school boy days, Kevin developed decisions, he always felt he had honorary (until 1974) and his a long standing friendship failed if the matter could not be His emigration to Australia involved private practice was expanding, with Doug Nicholls (later Sir settled with a handshake. several days in a DC3 followed by Kevin resigned from the Austin Douglas Nicholls, Governor of a week in Bonegilla, then a job on Hospital, maintaining his South Australia), then a League Over Kevin’s long illness Jill was the roads using pick and shovel. association with the Alfred, where footballer and grounds man at able to care for him at home. Later he worked as a wardsman at he was appointed as Honorary Fitzroy, having first met at church Because of his love for sailing Gresswell and Hamilton hospitals. Surgeon to Outpatients in 1958, in Northcote. In later life, Doug and happy memories of family To be accepted into the Melbourne and to Inpatients in 1972. became very active in the welfare holidays at sea, Kevin asked that medical course he had to sit an of his own people, and Kevin his ashes be scattered at sea off examination in English, which he Kevin was always punctual made several trips with Doug to the coast at Flinders, where they had improved while in Hamilton, and rarely wasted time. He the Gibson Desert area, west of will be at the mercy of the ‘wind and another language (he chose was an excellent technician, Alice Springs. These trips together and the waves’. French). His Czech medical degree regarded highly by theatre led to a Senate sub-committee counted for one year of training. staff – the ultimate judges. It’s hearing and the development of Nick Hamilton, MBBS 1946 To earn enough to pay his fees he probably as a teacher that he some remote medical clinics. worked at the cafeteria in University is best remembered. He held Frank Kopocek House – a friend from his childhood regular tutorial sessions with Outside his professional pursuits, 1924—2011 offered him the job. He graduated in students and enjoyed teaching Kevin had a passion for the 1959 – a ‘Fabulous Fifty-Niner’. his residents and registrars the Collingwood Football Club Born in 1924, Frank Kopocek’s basics of surgery, especially and yacht racing. Kevin was youth was spent in Oslavny, not Frank married while still a student, surgical techniques. originally the medical officer and far from Brno, in Czechoslovakia. and spent most of his professional later the consulting surgeon at He was educated locally and, being life as a GP in Box Hill where he Kevin married Jill Smith in Collingwood. It is a tragedy that good at maths, nearly became a was also active in the Box Hill November 1962, and had a long his findings and teaching on head mining engineer, especially as Hospital. There were two daughters and successful partnership for injuries did not carry on after his he worked for 15 months in coal and a son, the latter unfortunately almost forty-nine years. Together retirement. He was later elected to mines from the age of 18. However, killed in a road accident in 1968. they had two children, Peter and the committee for some ten years when he was 15, the humanity Failing vision due to macular Lisa, and five grandchildren. and was active on the finance and knowledge of the local doctor degeneration led Frank to retire to As well as a career in medicine, committee. He was instrumental attending his grandmother for a Monash Gardens, where he died on Kevin developed interests in in correcting the architect’s stroke impressed him and from 30 May 2011. His funeral, conducted farming, yachting, and out-back drawings of the new outer then on his fate was sealed. partly in Czech, partly in English, travel. Jill was of great support in stand, as the stairs did not lead was concluded by a violin solo all these endeavours and family directly to bar! At Collingwood he The Nazi invasion of his country played by a long-time friend – the holidays almost always involved developed some great friendships resulted in the closure of the Czech well-known ‘Goin’ Home’ tune from time spent on these activities. and it was here he first learnt the university. The Gestapo were busy the slow movement of Dvořák’s New basics of finance. He was elected and Frank saw their work first-hand, World Symphony. a life member on his retirement in his own high school and in the from the committee. dreadful atrocity of Lidice. He was John Mathew, MBBS 1959

26 Ann ceased practicing medicine in Audrey did enjoy her eventual 1953 when the first of her children retirement: she spent it travelling, was born. She contemplated surfing (a life-long-love) and returning to practice but fate bushwalking. She also enjoyed intervened and she never did. On socialising with her many different 11 August 1967, Brian was killed groups of friends and somehow in a car accident, at just 40 years found time for volunteering. of age, and Ann’s life was dealt a devastating blow. She was left Having four children, 15 with six children aged between grandchildren and six great five and 14 years old. With tenacity grandchildren, Audrey’s life was and support from her extended busy and fulfilled. She enjoyed family she continued to care for it with grace, love, enormous Angela Spiers and Brian Marks at her children as a single parent, John and Audrey Officer generosity and fun until her last their graduation including providing wonderful couple of years. educational opportunities for Audrey (Claude) Belle Angela (Ann) Stuart them all. Her children became an Officer (Adams) Liz Dombrovskis (Audrey and Donaldson Marks engineer, a lawyer, a social worker, John’s daughter) a haematologist, a paediatrician 1926—2011 1927—2011 and an anaesthetist. Raising six children alone was Ann’s Audrey, and her future husband, Ann Marks led a life of remarkable greatest achievement. John Cairns Suetonious Officer, achievement and sacrifice. graduated from Melbourne Ann’s interests included breeding University in 1949. They spent their After a happy childhood and cats and gardening. She became an residency year at the Launceston wonderful education at Presbyterian expert camellia grower and judge General Hospital, then were Ladies College, where she was dux and wrote a book entitled Successful married at the beginning of 1951, of the school, Ann was one of just Camellia Growing. She loved art, having moved to Hobart where eleven women in a year of 220 to classical music, good food and wine, John was a ward doctor at the enrol in medicine at the University reading, sport, Apple computers Repatriation General Hospital. He of Melbourne in 1945. Whilst at and travel. remained at the hospital, eventually medical school, Ann met Brian as superintendent, until his death Marks, her future husband. Brian In 2009 Ann had a secondary in 1983. David O'Sullivan topped the class in their final year, brain tumour removed, with the with Ann coming third, obtaining primary in her lung. Able to live an During a brief period at home with David More O’Sullivan the exhibition in obstetrics independent and fulfilling life for three small children, Audrey made OAM and gynaecology. many months, Ann retained her local calls around Fern Tree, the full mental capacities till the very mountainside suburb of Hobart, 1926—2011 After graduation, on 18 October end, even as her physical health where they lived. She always enjoyed 1950, Ann and Brian were married, deteriorated. She was able to choose working with children and, at one David O’Sullivan, who died in becoming the first married couple how she died and did so with great stage, thought about specialising in on 5 April 2011, will be to take up residency at Royal dignity, surrounded by her family. paediatrics. This being out of the remembered for his commitment to Melbourne Hospital in December question – it would have required the community of that city through that year. The constitution of the Ann is survived by her brother, training in England – she began his work as a physician and his role hospital had to be changed to her six children and nine work with the School Medical in the development of its working permit this to occur and their room living grandchildren. Service, staying there for 37 years, gold museum, Sovereign Hill. became known as the ‘honeymoon with a brief time off while their suite’. These were very happy years Michael Marks, MBBS 1984 fourth and youngest child was born. The youngest of three boys born for Ann who considered practicing to Mitchell Henry O’Sullivan, a medicine a great privilege. She Audrey enjoyed her work Casterton general practitioner, trained with or under leaders in immensely and, upset at her forced and his wife Margaret, David their fields: Weary Dunlop, Sir Clive retirement when she turned 65, began his education at Casterton Fitts, Sir Albert Coates, Dame Kate moved into a private practice, Primary School and later boarded at Campbell, Sir Benjamin Rank and with Athol Corney, looking after Brighton Grammar in Melbourne, Sir Victor and Leslie Hurley. the families and employees of the where he excelled in his studies and Electrolytic Zinc Company. played both football and cricket. Following his father’s profession, David undertook medical training

27 chiron Obituaries twenty11

at the University of Melbourne but Museum, he travelled every week the Commonwealth Health his studies were interrupted when from Ballarat to Melbourne to Department, Murray ran a private he contracted tuberculosis of the fulfil this role, with his distant one-man pathology practice in spine in his final year. He required cousin, Ann Tovell, providing paid Preston, before joining the Red a spinal fusion and spent four years assistance. What remains of the Cross in 1955 as Assistant (later in treatment and recovery, much of former AMA museum collection Deputy) Director of the Blood Bank, it in a plaster cast. is now housed at the University for 27 years. of Melbourne’s Brownless While convalescing at the Fairfield Biomedical Library. Murray made a significant Infectious Diseases Hospital, David contribution to the development met his future wife, Frances Read, Active in the Ballarat community, of blood transfusion in Victoria. then a pupil nurse on rotation David was a member of the local The Red Cross recognised his from the Melbourne Hospital. He National Trust and served as its service to the development of blood was also introduced to the joys of president. He was one of a group of Murray Verso transfusion in Australia with its medical history, by University of Ballarat residents who, in 1969, laid Distinguished Service Award in Melbourne anatomy professor Ken the plans for a gold museum called Murray Linton Verso 1977. His first book, The Evolution Russell, who brought papers and ‘Sovereign Hill’. He subsequently 1916—2010 of Haemoglobinometry and Essays texts to the bed-bound medical served as a Sovereign Hill board on the History of Haematology was student. With only minimal member for more than 35 years, Murray Linton Verso, a retired published in 1981, shortly before movement possible over his long his wide-ranging support of this haematologist and respected his retirement. hospitalisation, David developed working museum recognised in medical historian, died at St not only a passion for reading but a two ways: Sovereign Hill’s reference Georges Hospital, Kew, two weeks In 1956, Murray became one of great capacity to focus his thinking. library bears his name and in 1991 short of his 94th birthday, one the 26 founding members of Harvey Cushing’s two volume text he was awarded an OAM for his of the last surviving graduates, if the Royal College of Pathologists The Life of Sir William Osler had a commitment to community history. not the last, from the MBBS class of Australasia. He later became profound effect, prompting David to of 1940. an Honorary Fellow of the collect most of Osler’s writings. He After retirement David ran his College. Throughout his career, found himself in agreement with ‘beloved’ Mafeking Farm, nestled Born in 1916, in South Grafton, he maintained an interest in the Osler – that reading widely made in the shadow of the Grampians in northern New South Wales, Murray important issue of quality control the physician a better practitioner. Western Victoria, raising sheep and was educated in Grafton and in blood transfusion and served pursuing his interests in history Wagga Wagga before entering the on the relevant subcommittee of After graduation, David worked and collecting. He was enormously University of Melbourne. After the RCPA. He was an examiner at the Royal Melbourne and generous with medical colleagues graduation, he spent a year as a for the fellowship of the Royal Children’s Hospitals. In and historians of health history and resident at the Marrickville Hospital Australian Institute of Medical 1956 he was awarded a Fulbright a gracious host. Enthusiastic about in NSW where he met staff nurse, Laboratory Scientists. Scholarship to study cardiology useful technology, he was one of Jean Perry, whom he married at the Pratt Diagnostic Clinic– the first people in Australia to use in 1942. Murray also became an early New England Centre Hospital in a CPAP machine for sleep apnoea member of the Royal College of Boston, now known as Tuft’s. This after suffering a series of strokes. In 1941, Murray joined the Pathologists soon after it was was followed by appointments at In later years, with his movement Australian Army as a commissioned founded in the UK in 1965. He London’s Hammersmith Hospital, restricted by peripheral vascular officer serving in various was made an Honorary FRCP the National Hospital for Neurology disease, David traversed Mafeking regimental and field ambulance in 1977. He was also a Fellow and Neurosciences Queen Square, Farm on a quad bike. units in Australia and New of the Royal Society of Tropical and at Edinburgh’s Royal Infirmary. Guinea. From 1944-46, he served Medicine and Hygiene, a Fellow In 1959 he obtained his FRCP In a fitting tribute to this man with the Australian New Guinea of the International Society of (Edinburgh). Back in Australia, of history, David O’Sullivan was Administrative Unit, describing his Haematology and a Member David practised as a physician in carried to his final resting place role, responsible for the health and of the International Society of Ballarat from 1960 until 1992, in Ballarat by Sovereign Hill’s hygiene of the local village people Blood Transfusion. initially in paediatrics, and later in magnificent nineteenth century and native hospitals in Madang, adult medicine. hearse, its horses adorned with Lae and Wewak, as one of the most From his university days, Murray feather plumes. It was a transport interesting in his career. maintained a keen interest With his friends, Bryan Gandevia plan that David thought might be ‘a in history, medical history in and Frank Forster, David was pivotal bit of fun’. David is survived by his His experiences in the tropics particular. His first medico- in re-forming the Medical History wife Fran and their four children. awakened him to the importance historical paper was published in Section of the British Medical the laboratory played in medical Speculum, the medical students’ Association’s Victorian Branch. Madonna Grehan, Honorary Fellow, diagnosis and Murray decided magazine. An active member of the During his 20 years as honorary Nursing, Melbourne School of Health to specialise in pathology. After Victorian AMA’s Section of Medical curator of the AMA’s Library and Sciences training and some years with History, serving as secretary and

28 as president before it became the for names, dates and places and his completing his chemistry After leaving CSL in 1958, Saul’s Medical History Society of Victoria, good humour until the end. matriculation exam on the day interest in allergy and immunology Murray was made a life member. Pearl Harbor was bombed – and led to a year as a Fulbright Scholar For more than 30 years he was Murray is survived by his two completed medicine in 1947, at Columbia University, New York an active member of the Royal sons and daughter, his seven winning the forensic medicine where he developed new skills in Historical Society of Victoria. He grandchildren and by several great prize. After working as an RMO in chromosome analysis. Returning was made a fellow in 1973 and grandchildren. His wife, Jean, died Hobart, Saul eventually enrolled to Melbourne he commenced as served as president from 1974 to in 1993. as a PhD student and studied the a staff specialist (allergist) at the 1978. He stressed that to get a etiology of rheumatic fever in the Royal Melbourne Hospital, and proper perspective on history, an Murray Warren Verso, MBBS 1972 Department of Microbiology under was elected FRACP in 1970. His historical society should blend the Rubbo. His degree, conferred in research moved into cytogenetics, expertise of professional historians 1953, made him equal second as and produced a string of reports in with the enthusiasm and special an Australian medical graduate to the Lancet – including some of the knowledge, in various fields, of achieve an Australian PhD. earliest work on Familial X-linked intelligent amateurs mental retardation (‘Fragile X’ Thereafter followed Saul’s period of syndrome), ably assisted and then One of Murray’s earliest papers most enduring achievements, whilst led by the now famous geneticist was ‘A Medical Account of a Voyage employed as a research officer in the Grant Sutherland. on a Convict Vessel’ published in Commonwealth Serum Laboratories the Medical Journal of Australia in (1952-58). Most famously, ‘in his Saul was also a strong contributor 1950. ‘The Literary Doctor’, ‘Blood spare time’, after administrative to the Jewish community – he Transfusion in the Early Nineteenth tasks such as the Salk Poliomyelitis established ‘Kosher Meals on Century’ and ‘Doctors and vaccine trial participation, he Wheels’ in Melbourne, was the Daguerreotypes’, an account of the developed the Redback spider Inaugural President, Council of contributions medical men made Saul Wiener, Photo courtesy Royal antivenom and the world’s first Orthodox Synagogues, and actively to the development of photography, Melbourne Hospital Archives marine antivenom, against involved in several synagogue were some of his other papers. Stonefish. Many years later, during committees. He became an AMA Saul Wiener AM an interview marking his receipt of Life Member, a Member of the On several occasions, Murray 1923—2010 the AM, Saul remarked that he did Order of Australia (for services reviewed medico-historical books this work to repay the Australian to science, medical research and for The Age newspaper including On 15 September 2010, the Government for giving his family allerology. His wife, Fay, two the late Ken Russell’s history of The Melbourne Medical School lost one refuge from Germany. If it were daughters, Rebecca and Vivienne, Melbourne Medical School, published of its most remarkable graduates. not for this kindness, Saul and his his son, Rabbi Yonason Wiener, and in 1977. For many years, he worked Ten years ago I wrote of the family would have been among a sister, Paula, survive him. on the draft of a book on medical passing of the doyen of Australian the six million Jews who perished novelists but was unable to find toxinology, Struan Sutherland. at the hands of the Nazis. He also Ken Winkel, Director, Australian a publisher. Amazingly, the man on whose researched the funnel web spider Venom Research Unit, Department of shoulders Struan metaphorically and pioneered the study of Chironex Pharmacology In retirement, Murray developed stood, Saul Wiener, died almost ten fleckeri box jellyfish venom. macular degeneration and became years later, aged 87. This gentle, Moreover, Saul’s demonstration of legally blind. This limited his ability relentlessly curious physician- the toxicity of freshly extracted cone to write and to travel. Nevertheless, scientist was the quintessential snail venom eventually led to the when in his eighties he spent nearly ‘quiet achiever’ who, regrettably, current global boom in conotoxin- ten years laboriously researching was known to very few of the many related drug discovery. and writing Legends and Larrikins, thousands of Australians whose his personal reminiscences of lives he enriched. In the late 1950s he also explored various branches of his family the concept of active human and their origins in Australia. It is Like many other high achieving immunisation with snake venom an entertaining and informative Jewish refugees, Saul was born as a type of snakebite vaccine. His resource for lovers of family history in Germany to parents of Polish 1960 MD thesis was probably the in general, and especially for those origin. After experiencing first higher degree in toxinology families to whom he was related. Kristallnacht in Frankfurt, his in Australia and included perhaps family migrated to Melbourne in the first Australian toxinology Throughout his long life, Murray late 1938. publication in the prestigious loved learning: he attended weekly journal Nature. French and Italian classes until Despite his initially poor English, a few weeks before his death and Saul graduated from University retained his exceptional memory High School in 1942 – he recalled

29 chiron Reunions twenty11

MBBS Reunions 1941

L-R: Brian Costello, James Guest (standing), The MBBS graduates of 1955 celebrating the 55th anniversary of their graduation. Clarice Heatherington and Mary Wheeler (seated) celebrate 60 years since their graduation.

MBBS 1949 It was an informal occasion, with ample Apologies were received from Audrey Adams time to recall events from so long ago. A (Officer) and Peter Gill (), Selwyn The 1949 medical graduates celebrated their summary of apologies and some highlights Baker and Margaret Sickelmore (O’Brien) 61st year since graduation at the Racquet Club, were circulated. Two who were present are from London. Peter Barker, Olga Bolitho, Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club with a luncheon still doing medical work of some sort, while George Doery, Kevin Fischer, Jack Goldberg, on Wednesday 20 October 2010. Graduates others have retired into gardening, farming, Alison Fullard, John Kelly, Max Robinson, attending numbered 16, and there were 20 conservation, sporting and artistic pursuits of Len Rouch, Bob Taranto, Pam Triplett, Mary apologies (two from London and several from various kinds. The Mornington and Bellarine Bremner and Rae Williams (Lee) from WA. interstate.) Inability to attend was due mainly Peninsulas with their less-crowded and to personal or family illness or inability leisurely lifestyles are popular. Although many The death of Ian Collins was noted with to travel, but one regular attendee came apologies were based on health problems, sadness, especially by several friends, who had from Queensland and another from South the gathering looked pretty fit despite the known him since schooldays. Australia. The region was particularly years and it was proposed that we lunch again well represented, and six of the sixteen were in 2011. In reviewing accumulated funds from past surgeons: the reasons for these geographical reunions the conveners concluded that and career variations are elusive! As might be expected, there were reflections we could donate $500 to the University on the content of the course we endured. while retaining funds to cover the costs of Attendees were: Mary-Grace Asche (Whyte), Despite the volume of rote learning, the organising our 62nd anniversary. Noel Cass, Brian Fleming, Kendall Francis, approach was logical – a year of medical Joe Freidin, David Gunter, Norm Johnston, chemistry and physics (which have become Noel Cass, for the conveners Barry Loughnan, Don Maclean, David increasingly relevant with advances in drug McCredie, Terry McLaren, Ken Millar, John availability and physiological measurement), MBBS 1955 Pawsey, Pat Scrivenor (Long), Gordon Way and then three years of normal and pathological Ian Wood. anatomy and physiology, microbiology and The 1955 Melbourne medical graduates then two clinical years. One member noted held a very enjoyable and successful Of the 122 who graduated in 1949 there that the course done by his father who reunion luncheon, buffet style, at the newly have been 72 deaths; 35 were in attendance graduated in 1921 was almost identical! restructured Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club on 14 or apologies; and 11 were not contactable, No longer: a grandchild of one member October 2010. Forty graduates attended with accounting for 116 in all. was required to write a summary of 16 apologies. Seven travelled from outside hyperthyroidism during their first year. the state, most notably Henry Tung from

30 1955 1980

MBBS graduates of 1980 reunited in 2010 on the staircase at the Australia Club.

KL for his first reunion and Max Kirwan, they came from far and wide, but Kevin Leslie Spider, James E & of course Julian S amongst accompanied by his daughter, from Busselton again made the longest journey, from Canada. others for a great night and I hope all of us and in WA. Henry Tung gave a short and The speeches were kept to a minimum and more are there again in five short years time. interesting talk on medicine in Malaysia while apart from a backing four-piece string quartet John Henderson with his ubiquitous camera the night was self-entertained. The hair dye Tony Sellars was recording all the ageing faces for posterity. isn’t as effective, the wrinkles now creep across faces and the boys who used be in the MBBS 1980 The Alumni Association gave us the following back of the lecture theatres are now checking figures: 129 graduated in December 1955; 73 everyone out to see who is maturing gracefully On 9 October 2010, 150-odd graduates and had known addresses; 23 unknown and 43 and who is showing signs of age. partners gathered in the Australian Club had died. The discrepancy in numbers has to celebrate 30 years since graduation. The not been explained. By a show of hands it The jobs we are doing, the jobs we did, seem high ceilings, parquetry floor and ornate was decided that the next reunion should be less important as we mature (some would surroundings added gravitas to the gathering held no later than three years hence, that the say, finally) and the deep affection and that contrasted with the informal enjoyment of same venue and the format would be most camaraderie are more and more apparent. the attendees. acceptable and that wives/partners would With the passing of years posturing, position be optional. and letters after your name are less important The formal part of the evening consisted than cementing long-term friendships. of speeches – including an entertaining The group was reminded that one should presentation from guest speaker, and part- notify the University of Melbourne Medical The prize-winners of first to pay, most names time descendent of Sigmund Freud, Nathan Alumni Society to keep in touch. offered for where are they now, most helpful Serry – welcomes from the organising in organising, and most notorious, again got committee and a marvellous video-collage of Graham Syme their bottles of champers. old photographs.

MBBS 1981 Where did the five years go? Where did the Stories were re-told (some even embellished), night go? No sooner had we turned up than friendships re-established and plans were On the night of Saturday 27 August 2011 the the staff were ushering us out – with or made to meet up at the next reunion or graduates of 1981 (and also the students who without the coats we came in. even earlier. started the journey with us in 1976) descended upon the RACV club. As with most groups Thanks to Margie, Anne, Dave, Ross T, Mick, Rod Sitlington and Louise Seward

31 chiron Reunions twenty11

2012 Reunions

University of Melbourne Medical Alumni Society Contact Details

Andi Jansz-Gallent 4th floor, 766 Elizabeth Street University of Melbourne 3010

E: [email protected] T: (+61 3) 9035 3861 W: www.medicine150.mdhs.unimelb.edu.au

Class of 1997.

Class of 1997 – 15 year reunion Class of 1972 – 40 year reunion Class of 1962 – 50 year reunion

When: 7pm, 17 March 2012 When: 8 September 2012 When: 13 & 14 October 2012

Where: University House, University of Our 40 year reunion will begin a week of Where: Saturday dinner for graduates at Melbourne celebrations of the 150th anniversary of the RACV Club followed by a function for the Melbourne Medical School. We expect graduates and partners on Sunday, venue to Contacts: [email protected] that graduates will come from overseas and be advised. [email protected] interstate and hope to have more attendees and their partners than ever before. Contact: Ian Rechtman, rechtman@connexus. Facebook: 2012 Class of ’97 Melbourne Uni net.au or (+16 3) 9523 7333 15-year Med Reunion We plan to follow the format of previous reunions – a short morning scientific session Class of 1952 – 60 year reunion Class of 1982 – 30 year reunion for graduates followed by an evening dinner with partners. When: 10 November 2012 When: 24 March 2012 The committee is Elizabeth Donnan (chair), Where: Royal South Yarra Lawn Tennis Club Where: to be advised Geoffrey Donnan (scientific meeting chair), James Best, Chris Buckley, Jim Butler, Lachlan Contact: Hugh Hadley, (+61 3) 9822 7326 Contact: Jeremy Ryan, [email protected] de Crespigny, Jim Tatoulis, Doris Young or (+61 3) 9591 0466 Graduates of 1972 please email us with: your contact details, contact details for any other graduates of 1972 (email preferred) and any ideas for our reunion.

Contact: [email protected]

32 In Brief

Congratulations to Alumni, Friends, Staff and Students

Paul V Alexander (MBBS (Hons) 1978)—AO Anne L Moulden (MBBS 1982)—OAM for 2010 Dean’s Honours For distinguished service to Defence in the field service to medicine as a paediatrician, and to of health and, in particular, as the inaugural medical administration. List – Semester 12 Commander Joint Health Command. Sandeep Arunothayaraj Ian N Olver (MD 1990, MBBS (Hons) 1976)—AM Clare Bajraszewski Rodney P Barkman (MBBS 1961)—OAM for for service to medical oncology as a clinician, Leah Brown service to the community of Corowa as a general researcher, administrator and mentor, and to the Miguel Cabalag practitioner. community through leadership roles with cancer Andres Del Rio control organisations. Daniel Forster Christopher W Brook (MBBS (Hons) 1977)— Jonathan Galtieri PSM for outstanding public service in leading Michael Patkin (MBBS (Hons) 1957)—AM for Harry Georgiou improvements in the Victorian and broader service to medicine as a surgeon, and to the study Brendan Jones Australian health systems in areas including and practice of ergonomics and instrumental Jane Li quality and safety of patient outcomes, national design. Shueh Lim blood supply, public health, and rural and Andrew Mant regional health services. Jeffrey V Rosenfeld (MS 1991, MBBS 1976)—AM Jo-Lyn McKenzie for service to medicine through clinical Heather Pascoe David L Copolov (GDipPsych 1979, MBBS (Hons) leadership and academic roles, particularly in Pek Tan 1974)—OAM for service to medical research, the field of neurosurgery as a researcher and Henry Yao to professional organisations, and to higher author, and to professional associations. San Xu education. John P Royle (MBBS 1957)—OAM for service to Anne F D’Arcy (MBBS 1961)—OAM for service medicine as a vascular surgeon, to professional to emergency medicine, and to professional associations, and to medical education, organisations. particularly relating to safety in the operating Past Prize Winners theatre. Anthony J d’Apice (MD 1975)—AM for service A list of past medical student prize winners to medical research, particularly in the fields of Laurence Simpson (MBBS (Hons) 1954)—OAM is being compiled on the Melbourne Medical nephrology and immunology, through leadership for service to medicine as a clinician and School 150th Anniversary Website. roles in the development of organ transplantation educator. We welcome additions and science, and as an academic and author. corrections to the list from alumni at: Gregory I Snell (MBBS (Hons) 1981)—OAM for www.medicine150.mdhs.unimelb.edu.au Joanna M Flynn (MBBS 1975)—AM for service service to medicine in the field of respiratory to medical administration and to the community, science, to education, and to professional particularly in the areas of practice standards, organisations. regulation, professional education and as a general practitioner. Andrew M Tonkin (DMedSc 1975, MBBS 1967)— OAM for service to medical research in the field George Jerums (MD 1970, MBBS (Hons) of epidemiology and preventative medicine. 1962)—AM for service to medicine in the field of endocrinology, particularly the clinical management of patients with diabetes, and through a range of professional organisations.

Alastair H MacLennan (Former Staff)—AO for distinguished service to medicine as a leading researcher and practitioner in the areas of obstetrics and gynaecology and the causes of cerebral palsy, to medical education, and to professional development.

33 chiron In Brief twenty11

2010 Medical Student Prizes and Awards

Australian Medical Association Prize—Heather Pascoe Royal Children’s Hospital Paediatric Handbook Award—Clare Bajraszewski Donovan Johnston Memorial Scholarship Fund—Lachlan Brennan, Winnie Chen, Sir Albert Coates Prize in Infectious Diseases—Kate Matthews Amy Fitzgerald, Katherine Flood, Caroline Lum, Zaal Meher-Homji, Pundeet Pandher, Smith & Nephew Prize—Brendan Jones Dani Pickett, Sally Smith, Senthil Thillainadesan The Clara Myers Prize—Henry Yao Dwight’s Prizes—Helen Chan The David Danks Essay Prize for Human Genetics—Sara Dawen ESJ King Prize—Kate Matthews The Dr Kate Campbell Prize—Clare Bajraszewski Geoffrey Royal Prize in Clinical Surgery—Niles Elizabeth Nelson The Edgar and Mabel Coles Prize—Clare Bajraszewski Geriatric Medicine Prize—Omega Leong The Fulton Prize—Melissa Lee GlaxoSmithKline Semester 5 Prize—Ouli Xie The Harold Attwood Prize—Helen Chan Hedley F Summons Prize (for Otolaryngology)—Andres Del Rio The Ilana Rischin Award for Outstanding Achievement by an International Student in the Herbert Bower Memorial Prize—Miguel Cabalag Entry to Practice Medical Degree—Jennifer Crawford Herman Lawrence Prize in Clinical Dermatology—Alexander Gin The Jamieson Prize—Emily Jane See Howard E Williams Prize—Zi Yang The Keith Levi Prize—Emily Jane See Ian Johnston Prize in Reproductive Medicine/Biology—Heather Pascoe The Max Kohane Prize—San San Xu John Adey Prize in Psychiatry—Andrew Mant The Neil Johnson Prize—Aaron Wong Karl David Yeomans Prize—Eva Sudbury The Robert Gartly Healy Prize in Medicine—Emily Jane See Katharine Woodruff Memorial Prize – Palliative Medicine—Clare Bajraszewski The Robert Gartly Healy Prize in Obstetrics—Katrina Hannan Peter G Jones Elective Essay Prize—Louise Parry; Ranjit Singh; Agnes Yuen; Jesse Zanker The Robert Gartly Healy Prize in Surgery—Helen Chan Prize in Clinical Gynaecology—Melissa Lee The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists’ Prize—Nicole Lioufas RL Simpson Memorial Fund—Helen Chan, Katarzyna Michalak, Jasmine Pillai, The Therapeutic Guidelines Award—Miguel Cabalag Kathryn Shepherd, George Thomas The Vernon Collins Prize in Paediatrics—Clare Bajraszewski RACGP Victoria Faculty Prize—Jo-Lyn McKenzie Victorian Metropolitan Alliance Prize in General Practice—Clare Bajraszewski RANZCOG Women’s Health Award—Charmaine Tay Walter & Eliza Hall Exhibition—Kate Matthews Robert Yee Prize in Medicine—Gary Xia Vern Tan

New Witness seminar online Developing dental education and research in Victoria

Insights into the behind-the-scenes politics of the step-wise fluoridation of Victoria’s water supply and efforts to limit junk food in school tuckshops are two of many themes explored in the latest Witness seminar to go online.

The seminar, hosted by the Melbourne Dental School and convened by Ann Westmore, is one of a series recording the history of Australian medicine through peer-reviewed oral history.

Twenty-one participants, including former University of Melbourne dental academic staff members and students from the late 1940s to the early 2000s, reflected on the promotion of dental health in Victoria, the management of dental and oral disease, key contributions to dental Photographer unknown, ‘Dungeon’, student’s room, Australian College of Dentistry, research and practice, and the many challenges remaining. c.1907, sepia toned photograph, 14.5 x 20.0 cm. Henry Forman Atkinson Dental Museum, reg. no. 1232/3/68 This seminar now joins others (listed below) available online at: www.jnmhugateways.unimelb.edu.au/witness/contents.html of microvascular surgery in Australia Venomous Country: Struan Sutherland, Medical Science and Australian Animal Toxins. All seminars A chapter in the evolution of paediatrics in Australia: The University are, searchable by theme, phrase or name, making them invaluable of Melbourne Department of Paediatrics at the Royal Children’s research tools. Further information about the Witness seminar program Hospital 1959-2003, From ‘soft’ to ‘hard’ science: The development is available from Dr Ann Westmore at [email protected]

34 Books

Kickstart Setting it Straight So you want to be a doctor?

Recharging your life with a pacemaker/ A History of the Orthopaedic Department at A guide for prospective medical students defibrillator. St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne. in Australia.

By John England By Josephine Dunin By Kerry J Breen

Verand Press/ Pan MacMillan, rrp, $24.95 Utber and Patullo Publishing. Available for ACER. $24.95 + postage. Available on order $65.00 from the Department of Orthopaedics through ACER at: E: [email protected]; Pacemakers have become so good at saving at St Vincent’s Hospital. Contact Josephine W: http://shop.acer.edu.au and prolonging life that they are now posing Skelton on (+61 3) 9288 3980 or email: T: (+61 3) 9277 5447; Toll Free: 1800 338 402 medical practitioners with the reverse [email protected] problem, when to end life. In November 1893 St Vincent’s, under the Cardiologist John England (MBBS 1969), care of the Sisters of Charity, opened in himself a pacemaker recipient, has written, a group of terraced houses in Fitzroy and Kickstart demystifying these tiny, life-saving began providing both medical and surgical electronic devices, for the benefit of patients care to the poor of Fitzroy, Collingwood and and the wider public. surrounding areas.

Among the many issues addressed by Forty years later the hospital’s orthopaedic Dr England is the need for guidelines unit was established, arguably the first in on when to switch pacemakers off. any of the city’s public hospitals. In those early years most specialist surgery, ENT, ‘Deactivating a pacemaker may be ethical Ophthalmology, and O&G aside, was carried and appropriate when a patient is in the last out by general surgeons. stages of terminal illness and when the device is likely to increase pain and interfere with a Today the Orthopaedic Department employs peaceful and natural death.’ some thirteen orthopaedic surgeons as visiting medical officers as well as two fellows from Kickstart explains pacemakers, from their overseas and, at any one time, three registrars historical development to their future who are usually on the formal orthopaedic Written specifically for young people who direction, through the personal narratives of training program. are considering embarking on a medical some of his patients. degree, as well as those already enrolled, Written by professional historian Josephine this book describes the attributes that the Topics covered include: Dunin, the book traces the story of the Australian community desires in its doctors, establishment and subsequent progress of this the prerequisites for admission into medical • When and why do you need a pacemaker? specialist surgical unit at St Vincent’s Hospital school and the expectations placed upon • Can you hear it or feel it ticking inside? and was published in 2011 as the department medical students. • Will my pacemaker set off the airport celebrated its 75th anniversary. metal detector? It includes advice about study methods, • Making love with a pacemaker The book describes in some detail the surgeons financial support, and balancing study with • What’s the difference between a pacemaker who worked in the orthopaedic department as part-time work and a social life, as well as and a defibrillator? well as important contributions from others, information relevant to specific groups such as • How long does the battery last? for example the sisters of charity, the nursing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, staff, and the anaesthetic department. international students and students with a disability. An important and unique contribution to orthopaedics in Melbourne, this book should appeal to many surgeons throughout the country interested to learn the story of the development of the specialty over a relatively short period of time.

35 chiron From our Collection twenty11

Rare Book Purchased in Celebration of Medicine’s 150 Years

In commemoration of 150 years of medicine at the University of Melbourne, the Friends of the Baillieu have secured the purchase of a rare and distinctive publication to add to the much-prized collection of rare medical books in the University’s special collections. The first large-figure illustrated Italian edition of Pietro Andrea Mattioli’s Discorsi was produced in two folio (34.5 cm) volumes of early pasteboard with spines covered with vellum in the mid-sixteenth century. The manuscript title is noted on paper labels and inside there are some manuscript entry notes (partly cancelled by pen), with an Italian ex libris ‘Ricasoli’, a noble Florentine family. This acquisition is particularly special for the inclusion of more than 1000 beautiful full-page woodcut illustrations of the botanical specimens described. Pam Pryde writes here about the history and significance of this very special acquisition.

Pietro Mattioli

Pietro Andrea Gregorio Mattioli was born in 1501 in the Tuscan city of Siena, Italy. Following in his father’s footsteps, he graduated in medicine from the University of Padua in 1523. Mattioli practised in Perugia and Rome before becoming personal physician to Cardinal Bernardo Clesio, the prince-bishop of Trento, in 1527. After the Cardinal’s death in 1539, Mattioli moved to Gorizia, where he was appointed town physician before being summoned to the court of the Holy Roman Emperor in Prague in 1554. He was personal physician to Ferdinand II, Archduke of Bohemia (1529-95) in Prague, then to Ferdinand’s brother, Maximilian II (1527-76), the Holy Roman Emperor in Vienna. He returned to Trento in 1570 and died of plague in 1577. Throughout his life Mattioli studied botany for medicinal purposes, compiling his observations and discoveries in his many editions of Discorsi (Commentaries on the Materia Medica of Dioscorides).

Dioscorides’ Materia Medica Print of Malva maiora altera, Malva sylvestris or common mallow, from the Mattioli. The leaves and flowers of this plant, rich in mucilage, were traditionally used for their Pedanius Dioscorides (ca 40-90AD), a Greek physician, pharmacologist emollient and demulcent properties. and botanist, was the author of De Materia Medica (Regarding Medical Materials), a five-volume work on herbal medicine. His position as for the education of physicians, and by the end of the century similar surgeon in Nero’s army gave Dioscorides the opportunity to source gardens had sprung up throughout Europe. The study of botany medicinal plants and minerals from across the Greek and Roman broadened from a primary concern with medicine to include enjoyment worlds. De Materia Medica, reproduced many times in manuscript form of plants in their own right, and gardeners introduced plants from over the 1000 years after its publication, is still considered the primary distant lands into their own gardens. historical source of information about Greek and Roman medicines and records around 600 plants – although many are difficult to identify Mattioli’s Discorsi from their descriptions. Mattioli worked from a Latin translation of De Materia Medica, During the Renaissance it became common practice for botanists published in Paris in 1516, translating the text into Italian and to write commentaries on Dioscorides and to attempt to accurately identifying the plants originally described by Dioscorides. He added a identify the plants described in his herbal. By the mid-sixteenth further hundred plants from his own observations during his travels in century plant collections were established at Pisa and Padua, primarily the northern part of Italy and neighbouring regions. The first edition of

36 were incorporated into Valgrisi’s 1565 Latin edition, printed in Venice. The artists are named in this edition, but the engraver, ‘G.S.’ remains unidentified.

At least six further Venetian editions of Mattioli, published in Latin or Italian, used these large woodblock illustrations, of which the edition acquired by the Friends of the Baillieu Library is the first.

Mattioli’s Discorsi became the standard reference work on medical botany during the second half of the sixteenth century, with more than 30,000 copies sold.

The blocks were all cut from pear wood, along the grain, the average size of a large block being 222 x 159 mm. The blocks vary in thickness and imprints on the underside of the blocks suggest that underlays of pieces of metal type were used to raise the blocks type-high for printing. It is possible that the artists may have drawn the images directly onto the wood – there are two pieces of evidence for this, the first being that the artist, on occasion, made allowances for blemishes in the wood by working around the blemish; the second being the survival of a fragment of a drawing on paper attached to the underside of one of the surviving blocks which suggests that in some cases at least the cutting may have been done using a drawing pasted to the surface of the block. Most of the blocks still in existence have the Latin name of the illustrated plant cut into the wood on the underside of the block, as well as various other cuts, which appear to be trial cuts, where tools have been tested for sharpness, or where the engraver has practised a technique. The Mattioli woodblocks represent the pinnacle of botanical woodcut illustration in the sixteenth century, being so large, yet complex, while remaining botanically accurate.

During the seventeenth century woodcut botanical illustration was gradually replaced by copperplate engraving. The Mattioli blocks were bought by French botanist, Henri Louis Duhamel du Monceau (1700-82), who subsequently used 154 of them to illustrate his two- Print of Smilax hortensis, Phaseolus vulgaris from the Mattioli. volume Traité des Arbres et Arbustes in 1755. Duhamel added labels to the underside of the blocks with the then-current name of the plant, his commentary appeared in 1544, in Italian, without any illustrations many of which are still attached to the blocks today. Unfortunately and was followed quickly by three more editions in 1548, 1550 and 1552. the blocks used in his Traité des Arbres et Arbustes were lost, but the The growing interest in plants and their identification made accurate remaining blocks stayed in the family until the mid-1950s when some illustrations a desirable addition to the text of an herbal but it was not were dispersed – as far away, even, as Australia, where one block of a until the first Latin edition, printed in 1554 and published by Venetian Limonium (Statice) is held by the State Library of Victoria and another, printer Vincenzo Valgrisi, that we find the work illustrated with 500 of a Cyanus maior (Cornflower), by the State Library of Queensland. small woodcuts by Giorgio Liberale of Udine, an artist who had been working in the imperial court in Prague at the same time as Mattioli. Pam Pryde, Curator of Special Collections, Baillieu Library

A second series of woodcut illustrations, known as the large series, References followed. Numbering around 600 woodcuts by Liberale and Wolfgang Meyerpeck, this series was first published in the 1562 Czech edition The Mattioli Woodblocks. London : Hazlitt, Gooden & Fox, 1989. of Discorsi, printed in Prague. The large blocks were again used in Rambaldi Rare Books Catalogue 24 (2011) – Wikipedia a 1563 edition, translated into German and again printed in Prague, before the whole series of over 900 plants and almost 100 animals

37 chiron t went y11

Cartoon from Melbourne Punch, 7 August 1862 lampooning the Melbourne Medical School's first lecturer, John Macadam. See story on page 20