biographies

Saltau, William Dixon (1894 - 1970)

Born
16 June 1894
Warrnambool, Victoria, Australia
Died
15 May 1970
East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Occupation
Gynaecologist, Medical Practitioner and Obstetrician

Details

Believed to have been written by Dr Colin Macdonald. Published in "The Book of Remembrance", The Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne, c.1970.

This is followed by a memoir by Dr Geoffrey Pennington.

Transcription


WILLIAM DIXON SALTAU
(1926 - 1951)

William Dixon Saltau was born at Warrnambool in western Victoria on 16th June, 1894. His father was the Hon. Marcus Saltau, M.L.C. and his mother had been Miss Jean Anton of Yackandandah. The Saltau family has always been one prominent in Warrnambool affairs since Henri Saltau, originally a sailor from Schleswig-Holstein in Denmark who arrived in Victoria in the Ship Gypsy Bride in 1860, settled there to found about 1875 the firm that was to bear his name for more than eighty years. Saltau and Son were general carriers, coal, wood and produce merchants and forwarding agents, who, before there was a railway service, operated a horse-drawn tramway between the jetty and the town. Henri’s youngest son Marcus, carried on the business energetically, served his town as its mayor and became a generous benefactor of the Warrnambool and District Hospital, of which Marcus Saltau House and Jean Buick Saltau maternity ward are parts. The latter was officially opened with a gold key by the grandson, William Dixon Saltau, on 28th November, 1928, in the presence of his excellency the Governor and of his wife.

Much of Dixon Saltau’s education was received at Warrnambool Academy, then a school with 30-40 pupils, under the influence of Richard Lawson, M.A., later Principal of Melbourne Teachers’ Training School and to be Professor of education at Otago. From this early association sprang a lifelong correspondence between the two men (Mr Lawson is presently in his 96th year), receiving an annual added stimulus in a shared birth-date.

In 1908 Dixon won the under-14 Championship of Victorian Cadet Shooting (in the Sargood Shield series) and in 1911 moved to Scotch College, Melbourne, where he remained for three years. During this time ill-health caused him to be away from school for 18 months, because the growing boy suffered a pleural effusion with all the doubts and worries that were associated with the condition in those days.

Under the dual influence of his father, earlier noted as a fast bowler, and of his first school head, himself a keen cricketer, it is notable that he overcame this handicap to become a member of not only the rifle-shooting team but the cricket eleven, indeed receiving the Melbourne Cricket Club’s Schoolboy Badge for a promising cricketer. In 1913 he was chose to be a prefect

The family connection with Scotch College continues to this day with a Scholarship as a memorial to Stuart Saltau, Dixon’s brother who died of pneumonia at the age of sixteen during his schooldays there. This was another of Marcus Saltau’s endowments, uniquely providing educational facilities for boys from the Western District, with whom the benefactor liked to remain in touch in the succeeding years.

Dixon Saltau entered Ormond College in the University of Melbourne in 1914 and during his student years played cricket in the Inter-University first eleven. He graduated in November 1918 with final Honours, being placed second in obstetrics and sixth on the finals list. He held a post on the resident staff of the (Royal) Melbourne Hospital through 1919 and part of 1920, then went to the Queen’s Memorial Infectious Diseases Hospital, Fairfield, to work for his Doctorate of Medicine, which degree he gained in November, 1920. After this he was for a short while on the staff of the Adelaide Children’s Hospital being at one stage house surgeon to the late (Sir) Henry Newland.

He then travelled overseas and for a time was on the staff of the Paddington Green Children’s Hospital in London. At St. Mary’s Hospitals in Manchester he held resident posts for some months in both obstetrics and gynaecology, following John Sydney Green and Alfred William Harley and coming under the influence of both the redoubtable Fotherhill and (Sir William) Fletcher Shaw. He returned to Australia in 1923 and was appointed Medical Superintendent of the (Royal) Women’s Hospital in 1924 in succession to J.S. Green. In 1926 he was appointed to the Honorary Staff as an obstetric surgeon, his private practice then being in Collins Street.

In 1928 he married Miss Kathleen Eagleson, second daughter of Judge Eagleson who in those days lived on Glenferrie Hill, above Scotch College. Also, in the same year, he commenced general practice in Holmes Road, Moonee Ponds, succeeding to the practice of Dr. W.R.G. Frayne who left the area to become a radiologist before returning to Perth late in 1929. Here Dixon Saltau remained until 1945. During the second World War his commitments in this field proved a very heavy burden in addition to this Women’s Hospital and Collins Street duties.

In 1935 he received his membership of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and was elected to the Fellowship in 1947, the latter being conferred upon him by Sir William Fletcher Shaw while in Australia.

After spending all but two of his twentyfive years at the Women’s Hospital in the obstetrical department he resigned from the staff in 1951 because of ill-health and was thereupon appointed both a Life Governor and an Honorary Consulting Surgeon to the Hospital. He served as a member of the council of the Medical Defence Association of Victoria from 1948 to 1967.

Of him it has been well said that he never made an enemy. He was indeed an equable and kindly man.

After a long illness W.D. Saltau died on Friday 15th May, 1970 in St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Hospital, East Melbourne. He is survived by his widow.


Dr. Geoffery Penington wrote: When, as a student, I first met William Dixon Saltau in 1920, he was House Physician to Sir Richard Stawell at the Melbourne Hospital. I well remember his equanimity during high pressure periods of Sir Richard’s excellent teaching rounds and the easy manner with which he assisted any harassed undergraduates who had been found wanting. Students felt they had a friend at court and enjoyed working in the ward and assisting with investigation and management of medical problems.

After his initial post-graduate year at the Melbourne Hospital he went to the Queen’s Memorial Infectious Diseases Hospital and during this period he obtained his Doctorate of Medicine by examination. At the Women’s Hospital, from 1923, his particular life long interests were developed to the full. As a member of the Honorary Staff he inspired students and colleagues, most particularly as an obstetrician. A busy obstetrical practice was centred initially at Moonee Ponds, but his consultant work commended at 61 Collins Street, Melbourne, in Dr. Edward White’s suite. From 1928 till about 1947 he shared a suite with Sir Albert Coates and myself excepting for interruption during the war. The suite was too small for us all after 1947 but other accommodation was obtained n the building and the close liaison continued until "Dick" retired because of ill health. Indeed he continued private practice until the late sixties, albeit under great difficulty and in diminishing degree.

As a colleague he was superb and exemplified the careful consideration of the well-being of his patients as the primary concern. He exercised that judgement based on knowledge in breadth and depth, and critical experience, which established him as a first class gynaecologist and an outstanding obstetrician. It was a treat to be able to spend time together, even though of short duration, in the rooms which we shared, and discuss professional problems.

As a sportsman his first love was cricket, his prowess in this sphere being as a sound batsman. His interest in cricket never flagged - as a keen student and critic of the game when he could no longer play, and by frequent attendance at the Melbourne Cricket Club until physical disability prevented the latter. Golf gave him great enjoyment but the challenge of having to hit a stationary instead of a moving ball with accuracy provoked many amusing comments. When no longer able to play golf, he maintained his association with the Royal Melbourne Golf Club by becoming a non-playing member. Lawn bowls was somewhat less provoking and not only was he a top grade pennant bowler but he carried the responsibility of honorary secretary of Glenferrie Hill Recreation Club for many years and was elected a Life Member of the Club in recognition of his services.

As a staunch friend he was unsurpassed and his companionship was given freely. An excellent travelling companion, he enjoyed loyalty to his friends, and his high principles, never faltered. Although his generosity was great very few knew of it. His fortitude during many years of suffering from osteoarthritis, and the self-discipline which enable him to carry on when men of lesser determination and persistence would have succumbed, called forth admiration and affection which could not be expressed in his presence but were deeply felt. He was never effusive but quietly "went about doing good" and supporting others in need of encouragement or an understanding listener. Family ties were sacred to him and his devotion to his wife, who helped him selflessly, was profound. Deep sympathy is extended to her by the many who knew "Dick": We will cherish the memory of him.

Archival/Heritage Resources

Royal Women's Hospital Archives

  • Book of Remembrance, 1956 - 1975; Royal Women's Hospital Archives [ Details... ].

Prepared by: Robyn Waymouth

Created: 22 September 2006