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Fetherston, Reginald Herbert
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Fetherston, Richard Herbert (1864 - 1943)
M.D., Ch.M. (Edin.), F.R.A.C.S.
- Born
- 1864
Carlton, Victoria, Australia - Died
- June 1943
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia - Occupation
- Gynaecologist, Medical Practitioner and Obstetrician
Details
Transcription of item written by Dr Colin Macdonald and published in "The Book of Remembrance", The Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne, 1956.
RICHARD HERBERT FETHERSTON
(1892 - 1914)
Richard Herbert Fetherston was one of the brilliant men who have served the Women’s Hospital both as Resident and Honorary. It was almost inevitable that he should give years of devoted service to the Hospital, for he was born inside its walls in 1864, and always before him was the example of his distinguished father, Dr. Gerald Fetherston.
They were dissimilar physically, the father tall and broad, the son slightly built. Their interests were akin, both inside and outside the medical profession. The Honorary service of father and son to the Women’s Hospital was continuous for 45 years; the son was appointed in 1892, the year the father retired - a unique record of service to the one institution. Both notably contributed to its progress and status. Dr. Gerald Fetherston was the first Resident Surgeon (1860-65) to the Lying-In Hospital. Richard Fetherston was brilliant as at student. Educated at Miss Templeton’s, The Grange, Toorak Road (a now forgotten school), Alma Road Grammar School and Wesley College, he went to Dublin as a youth of seventeen to study medicine. In October 1881 he began the winter season at the School of The Royal College of Surgeons, two years later proceeding to the Medical School, Trinity College, Dublin. He passed the final L.R.C.S.I. in June 1884, two years and eight months after starting medicine. He was then twenty years and one month old. During the course he had won special prizes in anatomy, surgery, dissecting and "all subjects" in both years. After qualifying he was appointed demonstrator of anatomy and also did some coaching.
In April 1885 he was at Edinburgh University. He passed the first professional examination in October 1885, the second professional examination in April 1886. In May 1886 he sat for the final examination (M.B.C.M.) and passed it in June. Thus he was able to traverse the whole degree course in one year.
The young graduate then sought permission to sit for the Irish Surgical Fellowship. This was refused, as the minimum age was 26 and he was not yet 23.
The winter of 1886-1887 was spent at hospital work in London and in February 1887 he returned to Melbourne, practising for a time with his father at Prahran, but soon accepting a position as Resident at the Women’s Hospital. Four years later, 1892, he was elected to the Honorary staff in the Midwifery Department, subsequently becoming Indoor Infirmary Surgeon. He resigned to accept the position of Honorary Gynaecologist newly created at the Melbourne Hospital. When he retired from there in 1924, he had been a member of the Honorary Staff of one or other hospital for more than 37 years.
Dr. Fetherston was a successful and popular clinical teacher and lecturer at both the Women’s and the Melbourne Hospital. He was an examiner for both M.B. and M.D. for several years, and was a lecturer and examiner to nurses at both the Women’s and the Melbourne. As Medical Officer at Wesley College he pioneered the medical examination of schoolboys and he was a pioneer lecturer in that school on sex physiology, during the Headmastership of Mr. Harold Stewart.
A highly trusted member for many years of the Council of the Victorian Branch of the B.M.A., he was President in 1911 and later a Trustee of the Medical Society of Victoria, of which his father had been President in 1873. He took an active part in forming the Medical Publishing Company and was an original Director; he also helped in the formation of the Medical Agency and the Medical Insurance Company.
Dr. Fetherston was identified with the civil life of Prahran for many years; for five years from 1895 as a member of the Prahran City Council, and for 42 years from 1901 as Health Officer of that City. He also had one term in the State Legislative Assembly as M.L.A. for Prahran in the mid 1920’s. He possessed no adroitness as a politician, but made many friends amongst members. This to him was the only pleasant part of a parliamentarian’s life, which otherwise he considered was little worth the trouble, worry, expense and abuse.
A lifelong interest in military affairs culminated in active service in the 1914-18 war. He volunteered for the A.I.F. on 5th August 1914, was promoted full Colonel in 1915, and early in 1916 was made D.G.M.S. with the rank of Major General after return to Australia from reorganising the A.A.M.C., A.I.F., abroad.
He died at "Derwent", St. Kilda Road, Melbourne where he had lived in retirement for some time, in June 1943, in his seventy-ninth year, greatly respected by all who knew him. His son, Dr. Gerald Russell Fetherston, qualified in Ireland in 1927.
Archival/Heritage Resources
Royal Women's Hospital Archives
- Book of Remembrance, 1956 - 1975; Royal Women's Hospital Archives [ Details... ].
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Prepared by: Robyn Waymouth
Created: 1 August 2006, Last modified: 26 November 2006