A brief history of Perth Rotary's involvement with the establishment of the WA Medical School.
D Mazzucchelli OAM. Past President | Perth Rotary Club
The need for a medical school dates back to the 1920’s. The community lacked the necessary political and financial momentum to succeed however, in the 1950’s a renewed campaign was orchestrated by Dr. Dick Lefroy , a respected physician who became a driving force behind the lobby.
Up until 1956 those students wishing to pursue a career in medicine had to travel to either Adelaide or Melbourne----some even to Sydney or Brisbane and even London to do their degree. For years there had also been the added problem that some Eastern States universities did not recognise Western Australian matriculation standards and consequently students were required to repeat their Leaving examinations in other capital cities to gain admittance to university.
Not only was this a grossly unfair system but it was also an extremely costly experience for parents in times that were not nearly as affluent as they were in the years to come. Not only was it expensive but many graduates were tempted to set up a practice away from their home state
The Rotary club of Perth therefore deserves credit for initiating this project. Mick Yates was club President in 1954-55 together with Dr. Harold Nash a leading ENT specialist and Dave Dunn—chairman of the Community Service Committee played a leading role in the medical school program.
It would, however, have been very difficult to launch this project without the leadership, inspiration and drive of District Governor Russell Manning of the Fremantle club.
So in September 1955 a public appeal for $400,000 pounds was launched with many saying—You’ll never do it---It was a pretty big target for a State whose population at that time was 670,570. The appeal officially closed six months later with a total of $562,000.00 pounds.
Apart from the fact that students had to travel interstate the other factor was that the absence of a medical school seriously inhibited the stimulus of medical research and clinical research at Royal Perth Hospital
On October 26, 1954 a deputation of four Rotarians met with the Premier and told him that while they were aware the Government could not afford the cost of establishing a medical school they told him that they could stimulate public interest in raising the necessary funds and went about formulating a working policy.
On January 19, 1955 the Premier told the Rotarians that the Government was prepared to meet half the cost of establishing a Medical School and if necessary the whole of the cost of administration when the school was established.
The Community Service Committee of the Rotary Club of Perth was able to minute the fact that since the need for a Medical School was now recognized and its establishment was financially supported by the State Government it had achieved its Golden Anniversary Project. This was the beginning of the vast fundraising effort that spread to every Rotary club in Western Australia.
My father at that time was a member of the Rotary Club of Perth and I can remember him as a very active fund raiser---as I know was Wendy Cambell’s father—Bill Brine.
Thus in 1957 the very first intake of local medical students attended UWA as prospective doctors. I am pleased to report that four of those students were contempories of mine from the 1956 leaving class of Scotch College. One of whom LEW BLAKE was the brother in law of our own member Kathy Kusinski. My brother Rob was in the third intake in 1959 graduating 5 years later.
A Lasting Legacy
The establishment of the UWA Medical School marked a watershed moment for Western Australian healthcare. It not only provided a steady supply of locally trained doctors but also created a hub for medical research that has produced world-renowned breakthroughs, including the Nobel Prize-winning work of Professor Barry Marshall and Dr. Robin Warren. The school stands as a testament to what can be achieved when a community works together to solve a long-standing challenge.