Andrew Byrne’s introduction and welcome to 45th year reunion dinner of Sydney University graduation year of 1978. Sat 29th April 2023, Moore Park Golf Club.
Sometimes as reunion organiser I feel like a “switchboard operator” who can eavesdrop on many private lives and learn what people can do with a medical degree … as well as a lot more beyond straight medicine. I have been related terrible stories of misadventure, illness, injury, litigation, etc. But for each such story there was a salutary or celebratory story of note. Children, grandchildren, graduations, awards, renovations, farming, exotic travel, etc, etc. If I took notes after every message or phonecall I would have a veritable encyclopaedia on our year … but my mind is now a sieve.
Our dear departed colleague Mark Henschke’s bike accident and death was felt most acutely by those hearing daily reports from ICU, each ever hopeful yet inevitably ending in his passing, funeral and legacy. Julian Scullin, Bernie Haylen, Stephen May and Mark’s Coffs Harbour GP were in constant contact. There was an outpouring of grief and sadness from colleagues.
Just four weeks ago Dr Jeremy Colman was fully exonerated after 7 years of extraordinary legal machinations including two long court cases, worthy of any detective novel. In musical drama we would call it ‘rescue opera’. Despite a happy ending, the delays, costs, stress and difficulties endured were extraordinary. Jeremy sends his best wishes to all and would be pleased to hear from individuals as he finds his way back to some sort of normality.
Sub-groups in our year: for many years a group of women have met up on Sydney’s north shore Judy Stokes, Romany White, Ingrid Rieger, Annabelle Farnsworth, Di Phillpot, Anne Pike - and sometimes including Russell White as a token male.
Concord Tutorial Group reunion in Newcastle recently. Max Lenzer, John Christie, Toby Faye, Vicky Sutton and Gerry Lister.
Mike Campbell-Smith, James Wall and I regularly have a coffee in Moss Vale. Ian Rewell joined us recently on a Highlands visit. Lynda Marks lives up the road, Greg still working in Sydney.
I occasionally run into long time Highlands doctor (now retired) Cheryl Headford (Hanbury) at the Bowral shops … The other “long-haul” highlanders include Marg and Peter Malcolm along with Simon and Marise Grant/Hely. The rest of us are newbies by comparison. Any others with plans to relocate to this ‘costa geriatrica’?
The strangest group of all might be Column 8 in the SMH: Jim Wall, Tim Ingall, Ian Rewell and Bill Brooks have had numerous interactions over the years, Tim being the most regular, despite living in the USA (Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale AZ). I am sure there are other ‘groups’ on NSW North Coast, ACT and elsewhere … would love to hear more.
Challenges of retirement … many are the same as challenges of old age … body and brain don’t perform as they once did. I am staggered at how many are involved in music … playing, teaching, singing, even composing. All I do is listen to opera and then criticise it! And cooking, especially slow cooking, plus recently discovered the joys of lentils, dahl, naan bread, avgolemono soupa, Hungarian goulash and more.
I have been re-reading Shakespeare, aided by Google Maps and internet searches. I now know the exact distances from Birnam Wood to Dunsinane; Mantua to Verona; London to Rochester and Canterbury and so forth … most telling, perhaps, was Henry Bolingbroke’s landing point back in England, Ravenspur which, along with half a dozen other peninsular villages has now been resumed by the North Sea and is little more than a sandy spit with a lighthouse and monument to Henry IV. Wiki tells us that sea levels have already risen 15-25cm, something which surprised me (I thought it was millimetres only). What chance the world ahead?
Some wild-card year members have been in touch recently. Ron Lopert sends greetings from across the ditch. Peter Vandyke is now in Bellingen, moved from Dorrigo. All were happy to converse and send regards for a nice night tonight. Lucia Glumac sent regards a while back. Bronwyn Lee has written. Most are on the blog for those with time to read it. You might find yourself there! And some very old mug shots!
On the same day I spoke to two female interstate colleagues who each pointed out that they were not very sociable, one lived in college and both said that they had not done anything much in their careers. On closer probing both had done novel and substantial things from GP base … pain management, addiction, Aboriginal Health, brain injury and rehabilitation. And these were not professors of medicine, TV personalities or decorated citizens yet their work was as worthy as any in our year (not wishing to compare, which could be odorous).
My THANK-YOU list is extensive for this gathering, blog, photos, archives, menu, venue, etc. Judy and Ian Stokes are on a road trip around Australia, Jim Markos took many of the photos you see on the screens and more; Ingrid Rieger, Katherine Brown, Julian Scullin, Bernie Haylen, Jim Wall also for finding lost contacts and much more. Thanks also to Michaela, Drina, Michael, Chef Andy and their staff for strident efforts at Moore Park Golf Club to make our evening such a pleasure.
I hope you are enjoying the evening … but now a few brief words (‘no speeches’) from Steve Jurd and then Peter Collignon … followed by anyone else who would like to take the microphone.
AB ..
