HEATH, Dr John Reid William Allan (1902-1993)
.jpg)
John Reid William Alan Heath was born at Northcote on 10 April 1902 to parents James Alexander Allan Heath and Ignez Annie Heath. His mother, Ignez, died of typhoid which the family believed had been contracted from well water at Torquay. At the time, John was only three years old. He was consequently raised by his grandparents.
He was enrolled at Geelong College from 2 June 1913 (Form Middle IV) to December 1917. He was enrolled by W. Heath who gave his address as Aphrasia St, Geelong. He had previously attended Alexandra College, Northcote.
At the Geelong College sports on 10 November 1917, John, together with J Madden ran 2nd in the Senior Manx Race. John had won the Junior Manx Race (100 yds) in 1914. In 1917, he also won the Under 16 880yds in a time of 2 minutes 21 secs (15yds handicap). Earlier in May 1917 he had participated in the College Regatta rowing in the Middle Fours in the third heat. His family commented that: 'John loved his school days and always said how very sad he was when his grandfather told him he had to leave school and get a job' . In 1936, 1937 and 1938, he returned to the College to present the prizes for the Under 16 Handicap Race (880 yds) at the College sports days. Pegasus in 1943, in the Sports Prize list, reported G W Ewan as the winner of the Under 16 Championship (The John Heath Cup)
After he left College, he worked in the ANZ Bank for three years then studied Medicine at Melbourne University.
In 1928, John married (No. 8853) Olive Emily Baird and set up a medical practice in Heidelberg. John and Olive had one daughter – Patricia Baird Heath who married Graham Bartlett Laws in 1958.
'Life was hard during the 1930s Depression but John never turned away a patient. In 1932, they moved to Edinburgh for 12 months where John studied Obstetrics. After returning to Australia in 1933, John set up a medical practice at 94 Collins street Melbourne. Pegasus magazine in 1933 commented: 'Dr John Heath (1917) since returning fom Europe, has settled in a new suite of rooms at 94 Collins St, where he carries on his medical profession.' John was passionate about medicine and loved his profession. On one occasion he was so busy that he put up his fees to deter some patients. He ended up with more patients and dropped his fees again!'
During World War II, John served in the Army Medical Corps and was stationed in New Guinea. After the war he was a member of the Naval and Military Club.
Olive passed away on 5 September 1970. John subsequently married Corrie Eleanor Blackwell on 11 September 1971. They raised his granddaughter, Andrea Olive Laws-King, (nee Laws).
John was widely read and had a great interest in History. He died on 1 August 1993 at Windsor, aged 91 years.
In 2019, his descendants generously donated a pair of enamelled gold cufflinks with the College Pegasus symbol on them to the College.
John Reid William Alan Heath was born at Northcote on 10 April 1902 to parents James Alexander Allan Heath and Ignez Annie Heath. His mother, Ignez, died of typhoid which the family believed had been contracted from well water at Torquay. At the time, John was only three years old. He was consequently raised by his grandparents.
He was enrolled at Geelong College from 2 June 1913 (Form Middle IV) to December 1917. He was enrolled by W. Heath who gave his address as Aphrasia St, Geelong. He had previously attended Alexandra College, Northcote.
At the Geelong College sports on 10 November 1917, John, together with J Madden ran 2nd in the Senior Manx Race. John had won the Junior Manx Race (100 yds) in 1914. In 1917, he also won the Under 16 880yds in a time of 2 minutes 21 secs (15yds handicap). Earlier in May 1917 he had participated in the College Regatta rowing in the Middle Fours in the third heat. His family commented that: 'John loved his school days and always said how very sad he was when his grandfather told him he had to leave school and get a job' . In 1936, 1937 and 1938, he returned to the College to present the prizes for the Under 16 Handicap Race (880 yds) at the College sports days. Pegasus in 1943, in the Sports Prize list, reported G W Ewan as the winner of the Under 16 Championship (The John Heath Cup)
After he left College, he worked in the ANZ Bank for three years then studied Medicine at Melbourne University.
In 1928, John married (No. 8853) Olive Emily Baird and set up a medical practice in Heidelberg. John and Olive had one daughter – Patricia Baird Heath who married Graham Bartlett Laws in 1958.
'Life was hard during the 1930s Depression but John never turned away a patient. In 1932, they moved to Edinburgh for 12 months where John studied Obstetrics. After returning to Australia in 1933, John set up a medical practice at 94 Collins street Melbourne. Pegasus magazine in 1933 commented: 'Dr John Heath (1917) since returning fom Europe, has settled in a new suite of rooms at 94 Collins St, where he carries on his medical profession.' John was passionate about medicine and loved his profession. On one occasion he was so busy that he put up his fees to deter some patients. He ended up with more patients and dropped his fees again!'
During World War II, John served in the Army Medical Corps and was stationed in New Guinea. After the war he was a member of the Naval and Military Club.
Olive passed away on 5 September 1970. John subsequently married Corrie Eleanor Blackwell on 11 September 1971. They raised his granddaughter, Andrea Olive Laws-King, (nee Laws).
John was widely read and had a great interest in History. He died on 1 August 1993 at Windsor, aged 91 years.
In 2019, his descendants generously donated a pair of enamelled gold cufflinks with the College Pegasus symbol on them to the College.