BRIAN HASSETT

A Fortunate Life (with apologies to Henry Handel Richardson, daughter of a Ballarat doctor)
My Irish great grandfather who was a sailor, met the daughter of a Melbourne wharfie and my grandfather resulted from that relationship. His son, my father, was dux of West Coburg Primary School (Merit Level) but due to financial restraints he was forced to leave school at that young age. Subsequently he went to night school and achieved the equivalent of the Matriculation certificate. He was employed as a clerk with the Victorian Railways for 50 years.
He married Kathleen, my mother, who had contracted rheumatic fever as a child and subsequently developed rheumatic heart disease. She was strongly advised, on medical grounds, to avoid becoming pregnant but surprise, surprise I was conceived and 7 years later she survived a second pregnancy delivering my sister Joan. Hence in a true sense I am lucky to be here.
I went to Coburg Primary School and at the beginning things were a little difficult. I was a so called cack-hander and my grade 1 teacher was adamant that I should become a right hander. The problem became physical but eventually a doctor’s certificate fixed the problem. Subsequent years at primary school were highly enjoyable.
Glenyys Howlett and Barry Masenhelder were the top students and I was in the next rung. We had some wonderful teachers including Miss Corrie who through a friend introduced Barry and I to the Carlton Cricket Club and Mr O’Halloran who gave an enormous amount of time to coach us in cricket and football. Irene Serrurier and Victor Boreham were also in the same class.
In 1959 it was off to Coburg High School and Form1C in the cow shed, a so called temporary class room. Again it was an exciting time educationally with many exceptional teachers including Mrs West, Mr Neilson, Miss Essex, Mr Crocker, Mr Roberts, Mr Morris and Mr Albiston.
The school had a high reputation for its academic and sporting achievements. I was involved with the cricket, football and baseball teams. A highlight in my final year was the baseball team, coached by Mr Lynch, defeating Brighton High School in Adelaide. Our football team that year was not so successful.
Also during this time my father decided to contact the secretary of the Medical Faculty to determine the prerequisites for entry. Latin was no longer one and therefore I was able to consider applying.
I matriculated in 1963 and fortunately I was awarded a Commonwealth Scholarship and gained entry to the Medical Faculty at the University of Melbourne and the next 6 years were both exciting and challenging. My first real experience of medicine occurred during my training at the Royal Women’s Hospital. We lived in for 2 months and this exposure led to a lifelong interest in Obstetrics.
I graduated MBBS in 1969, married Gwenda (nee Dyson and also a past student of CHS) a week later and 10 days after that began my residency at the Ballarat Base Hospital. The hospital was a great training ground for General Practice and after 2 years I was asked to join a local General Practice and remained with that practice for the next 48 years.
Gwen and I had a wonderful time in Ballarat. We were immediately welcomed and introduced to a wide range of people, many of whom became lifelong friends. Two such friends, Wilton Carter, a prominent Orthopaedic surgeon, and Frank Morgan, a respected Dentist, had spent time at CHS.
Three daughters arrived in quick succession and Gwen was extremely busy. I was of only limited help as the medical practice, especially in the early days, was quite demanding, long hours, on call alternate nights and on duty every second weekend. Despite these pressures we were able to participate in a variety of sports, Gwen with tennis, netball and badminton and me with cricket, badminton and table tennis. There was also involvement in various art groups, Gwen joined a local choir and developed a keen interest in gardening and also doing some painting. I developed an interest in bridge and I play regularly in both Ballarat and Melbourne. I also studied for and obtained the Fellowship of the RACGP in 1975.
My community involvement began in 1975 when I was asked to join the board of the Ballarat Children’s Home. Until just prior to this time it had been a large institutional home but it was now converting smaller family group homes with the hope that this would lead to a more natural family environment. This has proven to be the case.
Around this time I also joined the board of the Victorian Faculty of the RACGP and I was involved with them for many years, including a term as Chair. In the early 1980s I was asked to join the Ballarat Base Hospital Board and I remained a member of that board and the subsequent amalgamated Ballarat Health Services Board (Base Hospital, QE Geriatric Centre and Lakeside Mental Hospital) for 21 years. I served 2 years as Chair of the Base Board and became the inaugural Chair of the BHS Board.
I greatly enjoyed being involved with these community organisations and meeting a wide range of interesting people and I gained new perspectives as a result. For relaxation, I became the club doctor at the North Ballarat Football Club which at this time was a successful club in the VFL. I maintained this position for 12 years. I had great memories of the Coburg oval when North played Coburg and I was on duty.
All these community activities would not have been possible without Gwen’s support and encouragement. I am still amazed that people saw fit to nominate me for the award of OAM but something which I will cherish forever. Unfortunately Gwen is not here to share the moment but the 3 girls, their great husbands and 8 wonderful grandchildren together with my sister and brother in law are very happy.
Written by Brian Hassett in 2020
My Irish great grandfather who was a sailor, met the daughter of a Melbourne wharfie and my grandfather resulted from that relationship. His son, my father, was dux of West Coburg Primary School (Merit Level) but due to financial restraints he was forced to leave school at that young age. Subsequently he went to night school and achieved the equivalent of the Matriculation certificate. He was employed as a clerk with the Victorian Railways for 50 years.
He married Kathleen, my mother, who had contracted rheumatic fever as a child and subsequently developed rheumatic heart disease. She was strongly advised, on medical grounds, to avoid becoming pregnant but surprise, surprise I was conceived and 7 years later she survived a second pregnancy delivering my sister Joan. Hence in a true sense I am lucky to be here.
I went to Coburg Primary School and at the beginning things were a little difficult. I was a so called cack-hander and my grade 1 teacher was adamant that I should become a right hander. The problem became physical but eventually a doctor’s certificate fixed the problem. Subsequent years at primary school were highly enjoyable.
Glenyys Howlett and Barry Masenhelder were the top students and I was in the next rung. We had some wonderful teachers including Miss Corrie who through a friend introduced Barry and I to the Carlton Cricket Club and Mr O’Halloran who gave an enormous amount of time to coach us in cricket and football. Irene Serrurier and Victor Boreham were also in the same class.
In 1959 it was off to Coburg High School and Form1C in the cow shed, a so called temporary class room. Again it was an exciting time educationally with many exceptional teachers including Mrs West, Mr Neilson, Miss Essex, Mr Crocker, Mr Roberts, Mr Morris and Mr Albiston.
The school had a high reputation for its academic and sporting achievements. I was involved with the cricket, football and baseball teams. A highlight in my final year was the baseball team, coached by Mr Lynch, defeating Brighton High School in Adelaide. Our football team that year was not so successful.
Also during this time my father decided to contact the secretary of the Medical Faculty to determine the prerequisites for entry. Latin was no longer one and therefore I was able to consider applying.
I matriculated in 1963 and fortunately I was awarded a Commonwealth Scholarship and gained entry to the Medical Faculty at the University of Melbourne and the next 6 years were both exciting and challenging. My first real experience of medicine occurred during my training at the Royal Women’s Hospital. We lived in for 2 months and this exposure led to a lifelong interest in Obstetrics.
I graduated MBBS in 1969, married Gwenda (nee Dyson and also a past student of CHS) a week later and 10 days after that began my residency at the Ballarat Base Hospital. The hospital was a great training ground for General Practice and after 2 years I was asked to join a local General Practice and remained with that practice for the next 48 years.
Gwen and I had a wonderful time in Ballarat. We were immediately welcomed and introduced to a wide range of people, many of whom became lifelong friends. Two such friends, Wilton Carter, a prominent Orthopaedic surgeon, and Frank Morgan, a respected Dentist, had spent time at CHS.
Three daughters arrived in quick succession and Gwen was extremely busy. I was of only limited help as the medical practice, especially in the early days, was quite demanding, long hours, on call alternate nights and on duty every second weekend. Despite these pressures we were able to participate in a variety of sports, Gwen with tennis, netball and badminton and me with cricket, badminton and table tennis. There was also involvement in various art groups, Gwen joined a local choir and developed a keen interest in gardening and also doing some painting. I developed an interest in bridge and I play regularly in both Ballarat and Melbourne. I also studied for and obtained the Fellowship of the RACGP in 1975.
My community involvement began in 1975 when I was asked to join the board of the Ballarat Children’s Home. Until just prior to this time it had been a large institutional home but it was now converting smaller family group homes with the hope that this would lead to a more natural family environment. This has proven to be the case.
Around this time I also joined the board of the Victorian Faculty of the RACGP and I was involved with them for many years, including a term as Chair. In the early 1980s I was asked to join the Ballarat Base Hospital Board and I remained a member of that board and the subsequent amalgamated Ballarat Health Services Board (Base Hospital, QE Geriatric Centre and Lakeside Mental Hospital) for 21 years. I served 2 years as Chair of the Base Board and became the inaugural Chair of the BHS Board.
I greatly enjoyed being involved with these community organisations and meeting a wide range of interesting people and I gained new perspectives as a result. For relaxation, I became the club doctor at the North Ballarat Football Club which at this time was a successful club in the VFL. I maintained this position for 12 years. I had great memories of the Coburg oval when North played Coburg and I was on duty.
All these community activities would not have been possible without Gwen’s support and encouragement. I am still amazed that people saw fit to nominate me for the award of OAM but something which I will cherish forever. Unfortunately Gwen is not here to share the moment but the 3 girls, their great husbands and 8 wonderful grandchildren together with my sister and brother in law are very happy.
Written by Brian Hassett in 2020