biographies

Worcester, Regnald George (1903 - 1972)

Born
September 1903
Died
1 March 1972
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Occupation
Gynaecologist, Medical Practitioner and Obstetrician

Details

Transcription of obituary written by Dr. Arthur Machen Hill and published in Medical Journal of Australia, 14th April, 1973 and the "Book of Remembrance", Royal Women's Hospital, 1973.


REGINALD GEORGE WORCESTER

(1939 - 1948)

Reginald George Worcester, who died in Melbourne on March 1, 1972, was a highly trained, competent and dedicated specialist in obstetrics and gynaecology. He was also a fine humanitarian. For five years before his death, however, his career was in eclipse as the result of a stroke in January, 1967. Because of this, Melbourne graduates of recent years knew little of his personality or of an imposing record dating back to his school days.

Reg Worcester was born into one of Victoria’s earliest pioneering families in September, 1903. He was the eldest of a family of six and spend his childhood in Omeo, Gippsland, where he became a good horseman and fine rifle shot. From the country Reg won a scholarship to Melbourne High School, which at that time stood on the site of the present Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. Here his record was outstanding, as cited in the excellent obituary of him in "The Old Unicornian" (magazine of the Melbourne High School Old Boys’ Association) last June: "He was head prefect in 1921 when he was awarded the Rix Prize, the only prize permitted by Joe Hocking at Spring Street and one awarded to the boy who had shown the best character, exerted the strongest influence for good and made the greatest progress in his studies. At Spring Street Reg Worcester was champion shot of the rifle team and best player in lacrosse, and his final year, won a senior scholarship and a university college scholarship."

In 1922, Reg began medicine and it was then that I met him and came to appreciate his ability and personality. At the time of his death we had been friends for 50 years. Throughout his medical course Reg was among the academic leaders and invariably passed with honours. In second year he was one of only five to qualify as both a "prosecutor" in anatomy (in the first 8) and "apostle" in physiology (in the first 12). In sport he was also prominent, being captain of the university lacrosse team and winning both a full blue and a place in the Victorian interstate team; he also won a half blue for rifle shooting. Military life appealed to him and he became a lieutenant and later captain in the Melbourne University Rifles. He graduated in 1927 with first-class honours in obstetrics and gynaecology, second-class honours in medicine and surgery and seventh place in the combined honours list. This was a "vintage" year, for of 81 who graduated, no less than 17 became honoraries in the public teaching hospitals of Melbourne.

After graduating, Reg was appointed resident medical officer to the Melbourne Hospital and in 1929 to the Women’s Hospital, Melbourne. In 1930 he was appointed medical superintendent of the Women’s Hospital and held this position with distinction for two and a half years.

In those days the position of medical superintendent at a teaching hospital was predominantly clinical, and that at the Women’s Hospital was highly regarded. Indeed, of 15 who held the position during the 30 years of its tenure (1919-1948), 11 were later appointed to the Honorary Medical Staff. The key value of the position lay in its unique clinical content and the scope it gave for gaining practical experience in the management of obstetrical and gynaecological emergencies. Reg was an able superintendent, as I can attest, having been an R.M.O. in the hospital at the time. He was an excellent clinician with capable hands; and his friendliness and critical acuity alerted the resident medical staff. The R.M.O.s were appointed consecutively, one every two months, and Reg held a farewell dinner for reach senior man when he completed his year. These pleasant functions were forerunners of the social dinners later to be held at regular intervals by the Honorary Medical Staff. In these years Reg obtained his M.D. (1930) and D.C.G. (1932); and after his term at the Women'’ Hospital ended in 1933, he acted as tutor in anatomy at the Medical School and in obstetrics at Trinity College, University of Melbourne. In 1934 he went overseas for further study.

In England, in 1934, he married Jean Kerville, who was to prove a source of strength, understanding and devotion to him for the rest of his days. Reg next passed his M.(R.)C.O.G. (1935) and worked for two years as resident medical and surgical officer at St. Charles’s Hospital, London. He obtained his F.R.C.S. in 1936 and completed his overseas programme with refresher courses at the great London hospitals and Hammersmith Postgraduate Medical School.

On his return to Melbourne in 1937, he was appointed a university tutor in obstetrics and gynaecology, a post he held for 11 years. In 1938 he obtained his F.R.A.C.S. and in 1939 was appointed honorary gynaecologist to outpatients at the Women’s Hospital. From 1938 to 1940 he worked as obstetrician in a Toorak general practice and when the “phony war” of 1939-1940 became a reality he enlisted in the A.I.F. and served full-time from 1941 to 1946.

Promoted lieutenant colonel from his earlier rank of captain in the Melbourne University Rifles, Reg began war service as C.O. of the 17th Field Ambulance in Darwin and as A.D.M.S., Northern Territory Force, and the 2nd/9th Australian Army Corps from 1942 to 1943. His major war service, however, was undertaken in Borneo and Moratai, commanding the 2nd/1st Australian C.C.S. and the 2nd/9th Australian General Hospital. Reg was an excellent military man with an ability to orgainize and lead, and a humane concern for the individual soldier. The comments of Hubert Smith, company commander, typify those of A.W. Burton, Clarence Leggett and other military associates: "His success as C.O. of a Field Ambulance resulted from a complete understanding of what the unit should be able to do in the transportation of casualties in the field, as well as of the usual medial functions. He organized both with efficiency and at all times difficult decisions were made with humility and good humour. The personal qualities which made him such a calm and considerate consultant never left him, even in the most dangerous and trying circumstances of war."

Unfortunately, Reg Worcester returned form the Army with impaired general health, for he was the victim of established amoebiasis and a number of allergies. But in spite of this he soon succeeded in building up a large and effective private and consultant practice in obstetrics and gynaecology. The story of his next 20 years is one of continuing industry and achievement, hampered towards the last by periods of ill health. He participated in the medical and social activities of his colleagues, his university and his colleges, but never at the cost of the welfare of his patients. He was appointed in turn to the following important posts: Honorary Outpatient Obstetrician and Inpatient Gynaecologist to the Women’s Hospital (1946-1948); Honorary Gynaecologist to Prince Henry’s Hospital (1946-1963); Guest Examiner in London for the R.C.O.G. (1953); Examiner in Obstetrics and Gynaecology for the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (1957-1964); Visiting Gynaecologist to the Repatriation General Hospital, Heidelberg 1963-1967); and first Victorian Members’ Representative (1947-1950) and later Fellows’ Representative (1953-1960) on the Australian (Regional) Council of the R.C.O.G. To these posts he brought the benefits of clear thinking and critical awareness. In 1949 he was elected F.R.C.O.G.

During the post-war years I saw Reg less often, for we now worked in different hospitals. But to me his warm friendliness, perception, dedicated service to his patients and final courage in adversity, were hallmarks.

For an account of his post-war image in active practice I am largely indebted to the contributions of his colleagues and friends, in particular those of Theo Frank, E.A.C. Farran, A.G. Bond, Cyrus Jones, Dame Kate Campbell, J. Glyn White, John Gabriel, Victor Brand, Keith Layton and Kenneth Rex.

Reg Worcester had a vital interest in people and this enabled him to help patients as much with their personal problems as with their medical needs. Indeed, a significant proportion of his private practice always came by direct referral from other patients. By this following, he was held not only in esteem as a doctor, but often in deep affection as a personal friend. As a consultant he was always available, efficient and kindly, and he concerned himself with the financial status of the patient. To younger colleagues he was constructively helpful and assisted a number in starting obstetric practice. He was intolerant of inefficiency and could be outspokenly critical, but his displeasure did not linger. He was a good practical teacher in the ward and theatre, but did not enjoy addressing large gatherings, and being basically a man of action, he wrote sparingly. He was finely trained and equipped in the art of manipulative obstetrics. He was technically an excellent surgeon, some of his colleagues with overseas experience regarding him as "the best vaginal surgeon" they had seen. His main recreation was golf, and he enjoyed the amenities of his social clubs.

His reputation was at its peak and his health seemingly sound when he was struck down by a hemiplegia in January, 1967. Reg recovered only partly from this lesion which left him with impaired gait and a paralysed right hand. He could no longer do major surgery, but in September, 1967, he resumed part-time practice. Ill health compelled him to retire in March, 1970, and four months later another stroke left him almost completely bed-ridden and confined to his home. In the last days of February, 1972, he became unconscious with a third stroke and died on March 1.

It was Reg’s tragedy that so much ability and human quality were in eclipse during his last five years, for his mental clarity remained to the end. In his last two years when I visited him we talked freely of the present and the past. These were days to remember, for Reg’s courage was high and his intelligence clear and Jean nursed him with unceasing efficiency and devotion. He could have no finer epitaph that that expressed by his school fellows: "Looking back on Dr. Worcester’s long and outstanding services to the community in peace and war, it is evident that the qualities of leadership and selflessness displayed as Head Prefect remained with him throughout life. Those who awarded him the coveted Rix Prize certainly made a good selection way back in 1921." Reg’s was a close-knit family and the sympathy of those who knew his worth will be with Jean, Catherine, David and Marian.

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