40s and 50s Memories
Looking back, my lasting memories of King's
(while I spent most of my time dreaming
at the back of the class) are of a sound and
valuable introduction to religion. I no longer
take communion but the principles and beliefs
do not desert me.
I remember the fine example set by Headmaster
Unmack who exuded high morals but was a bit
scary as a French teacher when he took 5C, and
likewise Mr. Padfield ("Poop") my housemaster,
a stern but fair man.
To me, other teachers seemed a mixed bunch.
Mr. Cooper, whom I felt to be a bit "superior"
when he took me for Maths in 4A, soon relegated
me to the B stream. Of course, I always
remember the ever kind and encouraging
"Sarge " who much to my surprise, and his, got
me to do a forward roll over the vaulting horse,
what triumph! Always a keen sportsman I was
in the Senior Colts cricket team and the school
athletics team with Chris Eagle and others.
I left King's at the age of 16, with five 'O' Levels,
some happy memories, but mostly I have to
say with some relief at the end of six years at
boarding school. The experience did however
give me a sound belief in my ability to face all
things and all men in my future life, and with
confidence.
P. G. CALVERLEY
King Alfred 1949
Peter Calverley left King's in 1952.
He writes:
I am 79 years old and I have worked in this
practice in Australia for 40 years. I purchased
the practice for $1500/£900.
I was told by the British Army that I was
earmarked for conscription for two years. So,
after my conjoint Finals and nearly ten years at
Guy's Hospital, and also after a lot of sickness,
and with the support of Dr. Houston, the Dean,
I came to Australia by chance.
Mr. Goodliffe at the Guy's office found me a job
at the Ballarat Base Hospital in Victoria. Here
the surgeons were still General Surgeons and took on all types of cases.
I had married before sailing out to Australia on
the Strathmore.
After spending two years at Ballarat, I decided
to see as much of Australia as possible, doing
locum work in a piecemeal way, through New
South Wales and Queensland, in many country
towns. In those days, there were no Specialists
and virtually all Obstetrics and much Surgery
was undertaken by General Practitioners.
I applied forceps for the first time after reading
it up in a book! The child was born with white
asphyxia, but survived with mouth to mouth
resuscitation.
When a pearling lugger fleet came into the
harbour at Mackay, at that time crewed by
Islanders, I asked the owner if I could sail out
with them, but was told "It is no place for a white
man."
By now we had a baby daughter and we drove to
Cairns, I myself driving on further to Cooktown.
There was no bridge over the river there, only
logs driven together by great steel spikes which
drove into my rubber tyres. I was fortunate to
get back to Cairns to find my wife and child
under a huge tarpaulin rigged over our small
tent by a bonza Bushman's goodwill!
Driving into one bush town the first day, I was
confronted by the schoolmaster's wife in labour.
I delivered one baby; but she still had a large
lump in her tummy, and yes, there were two,
and thank God, the second came out without
any bother. In another bush practice, the
principal had stirred up his clientele so much
that at the annual yearly float he was depicted
as a doctor drinking whisky with his nurse whilst
his patients were writhing in agony on the other
side of the partition.
I returned to Sydney to work in a practice run
by Lebanese brothers where I partially learned
some essentials of Medical Practice, the first
being "Never refuse money." I returned to the
old dart to see my poor mother before she died
of breast cancer.
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