1978 Sydney University Medical Graduates social pages.

SOME RESPONSES TO MY ROUND ROBIN CHAT EMAIL … For your (private) interest.

From: Athanasou Nick (RTH) OUH [mailto:Nick.AthanasouATouh.nhs.uk]
Sent: Friday, 4 November 2016 3:31 AM
To: Andrew Byrne
Subject: RE:

Andrew –

It was very kind of you to ring me directly and I am grateful for you circulating news of my book to others in our year.

I appreciate your occasional emails (and photos – I am glad I am not in any of them) about our Sydney Uni year. I have been out of the country for more than thirty years and maintained contact with very few from that time. In one of your past emails you mentioned Henry Harris whom I met a few times at Oxford; he went through Sydney High and Sydney Uni) and was Regius Professor of Medicine at Oxford – by the way, he hated Sydney Uni medicine.

I don’t know if you (or others) would be interested in this but I will be launching my latest (fiction) book in Sydney – details below. It has a medical theme, by the way, and is dedicated to Henry Harris Even if you can’t come it would be great to catch up.

I was such a truant at Sydney Uni – I didn’t want to do medicine but my mother said she would kill me if I did not – she never joked about such things. I tried to do Arts/Medicine but the Commonwealth Scholarship wouldn’t cover the period. All of which would indicate that I began from a very low base. I did not like the course but to be honest I didn’t give it much of a chance to impress. Our clinical teachers were more impressive than the university ones.

I have not kept in touch with many in my year, only Minas Coroneo, whose notes I used to photocopy, and Jim Markos (ditto when Minas was unavailable). Greg Aroney who went to the same primary and high school as me was curiously never a close friend.

Thanks again for the call. I look forward to seeing you next month.

Regards.

Nick

Professor N. Athanasou

University of Oxford
Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Science
Department of Pathology
Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre
Oxford OX3 7HE
Tel: 01865 738136 Fax: 01865 738140
email: nick.athanasouATouh.nhs.uk
nick.athanasouATndorms.ox.ac.uk

Brandl & Schlesinger take much pleasure in inviting

you and your friends to the launch of

Palindrome

a new novel by

Nick Athanasou

to be launched by

Vrasidas Karalis

Sir Nicholas Laurantus Professor of

Modern Greek,The University of Sydney

Thursday 8 December 2016

6 for 6.30 pm

CCANESA BOARD ROOM

The Australian Archaeological Institute at Athens

Madsen Building (F09)

The University of Sydney

(entrance through King Street)

RSVP:

vrasidas.karalisATsydney.edu.au

vsumegiATbrandl.com.au

From:

Steve&Jan Hure [mailto:stan588ATbigpond.com] Jan Eriksson
Sent: Tuesday, 20 September 2016 12:30 PM
To: ajbyrneATozemail.com.au
Subject: RE: Syd Uni Med 1978 small talk ...

Dear Andrew,

Thanks for the small talk. I enjoyed reading it.

I am another retiree from general practice.

These days, as a volunteer, I read news from the papers and produce programmes on the local Radio for the Print Handicapped (Radio1RPH) including a ‘Healthy Eating’ programme.

Couldn’t quite get away from helping to keep the population healthy!!!

I did some of the embroidery on the blanket gifted to little Princess Charlotte by Tony Abbott.

I belong to the local guild and was asked to be one of the team of four to work on it.

I also want to let you know that I now have a new email address: stan588ATbigpond.com

Janette(Jan) Eriksson

From: Stephen Jurd [mailto:stephenATjurd.net]
Sent: Tuesday, 20 September 2016 12:14 AM
To: Andrew Byrne
Subject: Re: Syd Uni Med 1978 small talk ...

Andrew,

Thanks for the lovely, newsy email.

From: Judy Stokes [mailto:istokesATbigpond.net.au]
Sent: Tuesday, 20 September 2016 9:17 PM
To: Andrew Byrne
Subject: Re: Syd Uni Med 1978 small talk ...

Wow Andrew. The tulips are fantastic! Lovely to hear from you and have an update on our peers.

Good to read all about them.

I noticed the 50 year reunion for some Sydney uni alumni and they wrote a book about their peers! Fantastic.

We keep in touch with Di. Philpott, Ann Pike, Ingrid Rieger, Suzie Tait, Annabelle Farnsworth, the Glanvilles, Jon Wood, Bernie Haylen, Penny Druce, Mal Robilliard, Lesley YEE and LYN McKenzie.. Among others... Old friends. It's wonderful!

And now that many of us are semi retired we have more time for get togethers etc as long as we give enough notice! As everyone seems to be busier than ever with new freedoms.

Feel very blessed!

Good to "hear your voice".

Only 18 months to our next reunion?? Gosh 40 years!?!

It would be wonderful if you had the energy and wherewithal to be the head honcho again (with a bit of help from your friends!)

With very best of wishes

Judy (and Ian)

From: Ian Cook [mailto:i.cookATunsw.edu.au]
Sent: Tuesday, 20 September 2016 7:22 PM
To: Andrew Byrne
Cc: suzannataitAToptusnet.com.au
Subject: Re: Syd Uni Med 1978 small talk ...

Dear Andrew,

Lovely to hear snippets from our alumni! It seems we are all getting closer to “sucking the marrow” in different ways as we contemplate retirement.

Congrats to Mike Freelander – a gutsy move at this stage in his career but Lord knows, any ally in the medicare arena is worth having. We wish him well.

Life seems to good for you in the Southern Highlands – and doesn’t keep you away from the Opera.

I’m working 6 mths and sailing (with Cathy) 6 mths each year. As I write I’m perched at Sea Cloud’s helm literally sailing into a glorious sunset on the 3rd night of a passage from Mallorca to Gibraltar. In the space of 2 hrs this afternoon we spotted dolphins, whales and turtles. The plan is to exit the Med, head to Madeira, Canary Islands and then an Atlantic crossing to Caribbean in November. All a little daunting but we’ve been planning for it for some years now and we’re not getting any younger. Photo attached.

Also as we speak Suzanna Tait (nee Rosenthal) is hiking in the Pyrenees with husband Paul a mere 200 or so kms north of our current position.

Our very best wishes,

Ian (&Cathy) Cook

Ian Cook

SY Sea Cloud

Int. Mob: +44 7872 225 358

From: Gerry Lister [mailto:listergerryAThotmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, 27 September 2016 5:02 PM
To: Andrew Byrne
Subject: Re: Syd Uni Med 1978 small talk ...

Hi Andrew, Max Lenzer and I have been in practice together as GPs at Wallsend in Newcastle for the last 33 years and still going strong. We met in the dissection rooms in year 2...( Lenzer,Lee,Lee,Lim,Lister..... ). Max is head of the Jewish community in Newcastle. He remains as untidy as ever !! I have done several overseas trips with David Clark, who is an eminent breast surgeon in Newcastle and is still working full time. Regards. Gerry Lister

From: Chris Hindley [mailto:phe_hindleyAThotmail.com]
Sent: Friday, 23 September 2016 5:21 PM
To: ajbyrneATozemail.com.au
Subject: Sydney Uni Small Talk

Hi Andrew,

Thanks for keeping our medical year in touch during our working lives. University years were "the best" but I recommend retirement as being just as enjoyable.

Please keep up the great work.

Chris Hindley

-----Original Message-----
From: Bernard Haylen [mailto:bernardAThaylen.co]
Sent: Monday, 19 September 2016 3:20 PM
To: Andrew Byrne
Subject: RE: Syd Uni Med 1978 small talk ...

Hi Andrew,

Well done for updating the "Small talk"

Great to have a chat in Bowral.

Replying from San Francisco.

Is Tamara close by?

Regards

Bernie

From: David Farrar: dafarrarATdoctors.org.uk [mailto:dafarrarATdoctors.org.uk]
Sent: Tuesday, 20 September 2016 2:59 PM
To: Andrew Byrne
Subject: Re: Syd Uni Med 1978 small talk ...

Dear Andrew,
Nice to hear from you. Hope you are well. I continue to be impressed by your boundless enthusiasm for the Class of '78. How goes Addiction Medicine?
I have returned from the US and am living in Brisbane. Working as a locum GP all over Australia; recently Mareeba (near Cairns), Leeton, Coolum Beach on the Sunshine Coast, Adelaide, and Kingaroy (where Joh Bjelke-Petersen is still revered!). Now working in Hobart for 6 weeks and then Perth in November for another 6 weeks. It's a great gig and a fabulous way to see the country after years away. Professionally and personally I have never been happier. Australia beats the US hands down on so many levels.
Thank you for all the cheery news about our '78 colleagues. Margaret & Peter Malcolm (and you) may know my sister, Ann Parker, who is a GP in Bowral.
Best wishes,
David

From: Ingrid Rieger [mailto:ingridriegerAThotmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, 20 September 2016 5:17 AM
To: Andrew Byrne
Subject: Re: Syd Uni Med 1978 small talk ...

Hello Andrew! Still doing your good work keeping us all up to date ! Well done! I had imagined also retiring by now but instead have somehow managed to become the Head of Department of Newborn Care at RPA. So not exactly relaxing! ** still swimming !

Xxx Ingrid

From: Minas Coroneo [mailto:coroneomATgmail.com]
Sent: Monday, 19 September 2016 11:57 PM
To: Andrew Byrne
Subject: Re: Syd Uni Med 1978 small talk ...

Dear Andrew,

Thank you for the update - great to hear all the news and to see what everyone is up to.

I guess time is flying but I am just gearing up to help build an new institute as part of the redevelopment of Prince of Wales (as the tramline nears Randwick).

We have had mostly good news:

1. Got a gong on Australia day: Australia Day Honours 2016: the full list

No big news, to this lot - it is in the general division but given all the battles I have fought with the health bureaucracy, I thought it should have been a military AO!

2. At the end of last year I received a Distinguished Ionian award (for charitable work on Kythera). The fun part of this is you need up on a postage stamp!

Current Affairs - Professor Minas Coroneo receives the award for Kythera

Not sure how these things happen but I had very little to do with it!

Not at the opera much, sadly but spending some time in NYC and have a place in Tribeca on the top of an old sugar warehouse. Mostly on business - have had a few inventions commercialised and our older daughter has based her business there although has just opened her forts store in London.

Anna Coroneo (ATanna.coroneo) • Instagram photos and videos

Beautiful tulips - I am still a Tiny Tim fan!

Best,

Minas Coroneo

From: Ingall, Timothy, M.D., Ph.D. [mailto:tingallATmayo.edu]
Sent: Monday, 19 September 2016 11:12 PM
To: Andrew Byrne
Subject: Re: Syd Uni Med 1978 small talk ...

Andres,

I have seen many rattlesnakes in Arizona and can attest to the fact that if you don’t harass them, they won’t harass you. On one occasion, I was standing next to a small lantana bush in a friend’s yard, and after about 15 minutes, Pat looked down and saw a rattlesnake curled up under the bush. I obviously hadn’t disturbed it too much because it just sat there unperturbed until a fireman from the local fire fighting station came out with a snake hook, put it in a bucket, and released it into the nearby desert.

Our desert golf courses often have large natural desert areas throughout the course with signs in some areas stating ‘Rattlesnake Habitat’ with the implicit understanding that if you go into those areas you do so at your own peril. On one occasion while playing golf at one of these course, my ball was about 10 metres away from the edge of the fairway and I thought that there was little chance of seeing a snake in the middle of a hot day. Anyway, I tried to play a shot off the desert hard pan, but only managed to hit it about 5 metres towards a small bush. As I started to walk to get the ball from under the bush, I saw that the golf ball was lying right next to the head of a rattlesnake that was curled up under the bush. Needless to say I let the snake keep the ball, dropped a new ball back on the fairway and played on!

Cheers,

Tim

PS .. Earlier in the week there was an item in Col 8 about treating snake bites by compressing the limb with a tight bandage, rather than with a tourniquet I contributed an item that included the reason why a compression bandage should be used instead of a tourniquet, and also wrote that avoiding a snake bite was better than having to treat one. I then added that most snake bites occur because the person who is bitten has stirred up the snake, and gave the information about the ED physician colleague who came up with the formula that calculates a score that correlates with the likelihood of being bitten. He works in the county hospital in Phoenix that not only is the major toxicology hospital in the Valley, but also treats people without health insurance. Thus, they get a lot of uninsured red necks who get bitten by snakes and need treatment; hence the formula!

SMH 15/9/16: In Arizona, many rattlesnake bites (C8) are caused by people provoking the snake by poking them with sticks, says Tim Ingall MB BS, PhD (University of Sydney) Scottsdale, Arizona. "An emergency medicine physician friend in Phoenix has developed a 'rattlesnake bite index'. The formula calculated by assessing the following variables in each patient: blood alcohol level; number of tattoos; and number of teeth. The formula is (blood alcohol level x number of tattoos)/number of teeth."

A few years ago, my son sent me a funny joke about red necks that goes as follows:

Question — ‘What is the last thing a red neck hears before he dies?'

Answer — ‘Hey folks, watch me do this!’

From: Jimbo Markos [mailto:jamesmarkosATbigpond.com]
Sent: Tuesday, 20 September 2016 12:24 AM
To: 'Andrew Byrne'
Subject: RE: Syd Uni Med 1978 small talk ...

Andrew

How nice to hear from you and your recent interactions from such a colourful cohort of our mob.

I picked up on your reference to the Coca Cola sign at Kings Cross.

As you know, this has been topical lately.

I heard about it from Eddie Howe, who knows I collect Coca Cola memorabilia.

So I looked into the bidding, thinking I might make an offer for my preconceived bid of $200 increasing to a max of $1,000 for one of the letters.

I was most interested in little C because the 2 large C’s were just too long to fit into my 6 metre square collection (called Jim’s CocaColaSeeUm)!

To my chagrin, I noted the starting bidding surpassed my limit on the first day, and that little C was also the most popular.

I was not surprised then to see the final bidding reach about $10,000 for each, with over $18,000 for little C and over $100,000 for all 8.

It was for a very worthy cause, which perhaps you have some peripheral association with.

Anyway, nice to hear from you and hope you are keeping well, as I am.

Regards

Jim

From: Phil Jeans [mailto:p.jeansATgastrotract.com.au]
Sent: Monday, 19 September 2016 5:02 PM
To: Andrew Byrne
Subject: RE: Syd Uni Med 1978 small talk ...

Thanks Andrew for this update. I’m still working as a Upper GI and HPB surgeon in ACT and hope to keep going a few more years if health permits. I sometimes stop at Bowral for a break on the drive to Sydney and back...a great spot. You do a fantastic job of keeping us all connected.

Phil Jeans

From: David Baines [mailto:baines.eastwoodATbigpond.com]
Sent: Monday, 19 September 2016 9:30 AM
To: Andrew Byrne
Subject: Re: Syd Uni Med 1978 small talk ...

Dear Andrew

Many thanks for the update. I have been on long service leave from the Children’s Hospital at Westmead since April 2015 and will retire in early November when my leave is completed. There are many people I will miss at the hospital – but not all! I am content to be leaving this behind now and look forward to a different life while I am still young!!?? healthy and vigorous… I am having a great time getting involved with my eight grandchildren – much more involvement than with my own three sons, according to Lorraine! Motorbike riding and maintenance, sailing and catching up with old friends keep me busy as well. I will continue with a private eye list one afternoon a week for another year – I had planned to leave anaesthesia altogether but I have been with this ophthalmologist for a long time and he was keen for me to continue with him for as long as possible. I have also managed to continue with the overseas’ cardiac trips, going to Fiji and Tonga in 2015, Rwanda this year (Fiji was cancelled due to the cyclone) and hopefully will return to Fiji (and maybe Tonga) next year, although I will then have to give these up after 2017, as I guess I will lose the skills (and confidence) as I am not doing this work here. I have also been doing a little medico-legal work which is interesting. Lorraine and I have met up with Chris and Kerry Needs a number of times over the last few years, with Mike and Sharon Freelander when Mike was not campaigning….Chris, Mike and I were at Concord together as students and spent a lot of time together in those days. Chris and Kerry have returned to Sydney from Port Macquarie, although Chris is still visiting Post Macquarie while also practicing here. I definitely don’t envy Mike his new career at this stage of his life, although I do wish him all the best of course. We have another luncheon planned for later in the year so hopefully will catch up with how he is going.

Best wishes

David

A/Prof David Baines AM FANZCA

From: Chris Fenton [mailto:chris.fentonAThospitalofhope.org]
Sent: Monday, 19 September 2016 10:50 AM
To: 'Andrew Byrne'
Subject: RE: Syd Uni Med 1978 small talk ...

Thx Andrew-appreciate all the news.

All good with me.

Chris

From: Bin Jalaludin [mailto:b.jalaludinATunsw.edu.au]
Sent: Sunday, 18 September 2016 10:04 PM
To: Andrew Byrne
Subject: Re: Syd Uni Med 1978 small talk ...

Thanks Andrew - good to hear from you as always.

Jal

From: hal rikard-bell [mailto:halnmogsATbigpond.com]
Sent: Monday, 19 September 2016 7:33 PM
To: Andrew Byrne
Subject: RE: Syd Uni Med 1978 small talk ...

Hi Andrew,

Luv ya updates, and felt the need to add to .....

In response to apropos of nothing,

Some country updates, from Bathurst

Still country GP-ing, but no obstets now that there is an interest in a winery =- = in orange -=- every family should have one as, I tell jim wall

Still bridge, skiing, same wife circa 1972, who takes me on cycling holidays ( -= - sri lanka -had it’s road terror moments)

Succession planning is still the topic of our ilk. Opera when on country tour, or if David Mortimer (brother-in-law) has a special event on offer .

Mark Henschke’s daughter is now local in Orange base hospital, so Mark pops in to visit prn, and still teaching +++. Aren’t we all -=- and it is Sydney uni students who have changed somewhat I contend.

Great letters from dave eisinger, dave baines, Alan Granville, etc who has a farm nearby.

All the best to those who missed the Bx winter winery tour and will now look to the 'Orange food & wine week’, or the ‘cool climate wine show’. I’d love to show any interested parties the way around.

Hal rikard-bell

Video of Lisa Cottee doing a ‘Fred Hollows’, literally in NE China cataract operations. Amazing!

http://english.cntv.cn/program/newsupdate/20120828/100805.shtml

From: Suzanna Tait [mailto:suzannataitAToptusnet.com.au]
Sent: Sunday, 9 October 2016 4:09 PM
To: 'Ian Rewell'; 'Ian Cook'; 'Andrew Byrne'
Cc: ian.rewellATbigpond.com.au
Subject: RE: Syd Uni Med 1978 small talk ...

Hola !!! Jeez you guys.....So much happening all round ! we have been thinking of you Cookie and Cathy esp as we were quite close to where you were in Spain. Glad to hear the passage went well but assume you are now on the bigger Atlantic crossing

We re just back from northern Spain , both with a slight weight gain which was unavoidable when we found wine cheaper than water, coke and beer and the food was good as well with copious amounts of olive oil and entrée cheese size enough cheese to feed a family for a month and wine tastings at the bodegas in La Rioja

Spain was fabulous although we don’t need to see another golden altar for a while . loved the Guggenheim in Bilbao

We came home via London to visit Toby and Ellie and our new granddaughter Sophia. We both went straight back to work but I think I am beginning to prefer holidays more! Paddy and Adriana’s baby is now 9 weeks away so very excited to have a new grandchild on home soil. All is going well there .

Stretchie I saw you on Friday when Susan was driving you on River road in the morning , I was just in front of you, waving , you looked very comfortable !!

Anrdrew are we having another mini reunion or are you gearing up for the big one ?? hope all is well with you

Love to all

Suz xxxxxxxxxxx

From: Ian Rewell [mailto:ian.rewellATbigpond.com]
Sent: Sunday, 9 October 2016 2:38 PM
To: Ian Cook; Andrew Byrne
Cc: suzannataitAToptusnet.com.au; ian.rewellATbigpond.com.au
Subject: Re: Syd Uni Med 1978 small talk ...

Dear all

Stein and Cathy- was wondering where you were as had not heard from you- please contact us when you are back. (Susie Williams came to visit yesterday- Craig was playing golf at RS)

Taits- ditto- hope you survive the hike

For myself- having “retired” at end of 2014 and then spent 6 months in UK and Europe, including Gallipolli centenary dawn service, Ashes tests at Lords and The Oval and 2 Rugby World Cup matches at Twickenham and Cardiff- plus catching up with the Cooks in Mykonos- I have been cajoled into re-entering the workforce “helping out” for 4 days a week- 1 at Wollongong and 3 at St Vincent’s- so Andrew if you are in the area under the Coke sign please give me a call!

Grassby- emyall777ATbigpond.com

Taff Hughes- will advise

Ian R

NEW MESSAGES SENT SINCE MAIL-OUT:

Sent: Tuesday, 1 November 2016 6:11 AM
To: Andrew Byrne
Subject: RE: SOME RESPONSES TO MY ROUND ROBIN CHAT EMAIL . For your interest (privately).

Thanks AB,

Sorry not to have responded before now.

I went down to 4 days per week in April, and have handed over line admin of HammondCare’s doctors to other managers, and have gone back to a principal focus on patient care, specifically cancer rehabilitation, where we have opened the first specific unit of its kind in Australia, at Greenwich Hospital. Marilyn has transitioned in July from being Head of an High School to consultancy work in secondary school education, so our lives are in late-middle-life change.

The weird time for this email is not due to insomnia, it is currently due to my jet-lagged status, as I’m at a Rehab meeting in Chicago, where our oldest son Daniel and his family are currently living while he completes at PhD in NT Greek studies. Marilyn is flying over to join me, as we speak, and the three grandchildren here are looking forward to being thoroughly spoiled in consequence. I’m staying at the conference hotel, while Marilyn is braving one of the kid’s beds for a couple of days..

We did go to see tulips at Bowral (Corbett Park) on the Monday of the long weekend, as well as visiting some other old friends that day, which was a great day on all counts, in consequence.

All the best,

Andrew

A/Prof Andrew Cole MBBS FAFRM

Chief Medical Officer, HammondCare

Conjoint Associate Professor, UNSW

P: (02) 8788-3900

F: (02) 9731-1235

E: acoleAThammond.com.au

From: Maureen Corrigan [mailto:beach8025ATbigpond.com]
Sent: Friday, 4 November 2016 10:21 AM
To: Andrew Byrne
Subject: Re: Blogspot and your emails

Dear Andrew

Thank you so much for your emails and blogspot. I really enjoyed reading what everyone is up to. It is wonderful that you keep putting things together for us.

I should have thrown my updated info in earlier but here it is now.

I retired from working in the wide world of health in 2006 because of my multiple sclerosis. I am having a great time travelling like I have never travelled before. I have said more than once that getting MS was one of the best things that happened to me. Now I can follow my other passions and find new ones. My MS is stable and my mobility decline has stopped. I had my 100th infusion of Tysabri last week and it has been so good for me.

My travels on my mobility scooter have included trips to Antarctica, Greenland, Iceland, the Svalbard and the Arctic, Israel, Malta, Norway etc etc. I also found a new passion of writing. I did write regularly for the Victorian Government Office for Disability for several years until they closed their website for review. I try to promote travel and getting out and about for persons with a disability to just the gear and get out there.

My writing progressed to writing a book, my first. It was published in June this year - Unexpected Rewards: Travelling to the Arctic with a Mobility Scooter - available at www.vividpublishing.com.au/enexpectedrewards

It is about one trip I did to Norway and the Svalbard Arctic, the first one with my new small collapsible mobility scooter. It is also about my MS, my story that took a while to diagnose.

I am not long back from another trip to Germany and leave in a few weeks for Hong Kong to cruise via Vietnam and Thailand to Singapore. There have been so many funny things happen to me while I have been using my mobility scooter. More funny times than when I travelled without one! I am writing short stories now of funny and interesting events traveling with my mobility scooter.

Please keep up your good work Andrew and thanks again

Maureen

(Maureen T Corrigan)

1978 Sydney University Medical Graduates social pages.

Monday, 6 March 2017

Eddie Howe's interview in March '17 Australian Hi-Fi

Saturday, 4 March 2017

Dinner and honours

Monday, 31 October 2016

"Exam" jacaranda perishes ... ashes to ashes, dust to dust.

October responses to Andrew's chatty message of September.

Andrew Byrne's chat message from September 2016 ... M. Freelander MP!