biographies

Harley, Alfred William ( - 1966)

M.B. (Melb.), F.R.C.S. (Edin.), M.R.C.O.G.

Born
Richmond Plains, Victoria, Australia
Died
31 May 1966
Occupation
Gynaecologist, Medical Practitioner and Obstetrician

Details

Transcription of item believed to have been written by Dr Colin Macdonald. Published in "The Book of Remembrance", The Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne.


ALFRED WILLIAM HARLEY

Alfred William Harley was born at Richmond Plains, a small remote, but fertile district near Wedderburn, in Northern Victoria; his father was a schoolmaster, his mother the daughter of a local farmer. From state school he was sent to Wesley College, Melbourne, where L.A. Adamson - a famous name in Victorian education, then at the height of his influence - was the Headmaster.

Harley matriculated in 1913, and entered the Medical Course, graduating M.B., B.S. (Melb.) in 1918 with final honours and the Jamieson Prize in Clinical Medicine. After periods as Resident at the Melbourne Hospital, and the Children’s Hospital, Brisbane, he sailed in 1921 as ship’s surgeon to England, later becoming House Surgeon in Manchester, firstly at its Royal Infirmary, and later at St. Mary’s Hospital for Women. He retained his high opinion of the sturdy qualities of North Country English people. ‘Lancashire for shrewdness. Yorkshire for pluck’, he would maintain.

In 1923 he qualified F.R.C.S. (Edin.) with Gynaecology as his special subject and returned to Melbourne to commence general practice in the northern suburb of Thornbury, and here he stayed 22 years.

In 1939, three months before the onset of the second World War, he developed headaches with loss of consciousness, and X-ray showed a marked ballooning of the sella turcica. This was at first thought to be a basophile pituitary adenoma, but operation by Mr. Hugh Trumble, gave the diagnosis as cystic craniopharyngioma. The surgery - of two operations - was followed by an increase in hypopituitary weakness and diabetes insipidus. Harley showed great fortitude and resolution in resuming practice two years later, for at that time little was known about effective replacement therapy for pituitary deficiency. After being an anaesthetist and clinical assistant at the Women’s Hospital for some years, he was appointed a Junior Infirmary Surgeon in 1931, and in 1946 - because of his diminished health - was made an Honorary Consulting Surgeon. It was a particularly sad, even a bitter day when he had to leave the Women’s staff after 22 years’ service. But he lived for 20 further years because of the development of endocrinology, and throughout this time his keen intellect happily remained quite unimpaired.

In 1927 Alfred Harley married Miss Gladys Omesher, from Lancashire, who proved a tower of strength during his long and debilitating illness, and from this most happy marriage were two sons - one a Melbourne oculist, and the younger a London psychiatrist - and one daughter, a physiotherapist.

Harley was made M.R.C.O.G. in 1935 and later advanced to the Fellowship. He died on 31st May, 1966, of a massive haematemesis, on the eve of embarking with his wife for England.

Alf Harley (his pseudonym affectionately bestowed at Wesley was "Monk") was in build short and slight, mildly stooped, with keenly observant eyes set in a sharply featured face.

His voice and its intonation were of unusual quality - to a background of basic Australian were frequently added contrasting components of the North Country, and even of Mayfair; and his comments, always to the point, were sharpened by the idiosyncratic voice.

He was a man of marked ability and courage. To the end of his life - in which he had suffered great disability and frustration bravely borne - he retained a deep attachment to the Royal Women’s Hospital.

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, Last modified: 26 November 2006