Cecil Berryman, known to his friends as 'Berry', was born at Moama, New South Wales, and graduated MB BS Melbourne in 1925. He was registered in Tasmania in 1925, working at St Mary's, Scottsdale, and Launceston Hospitals in north-east Tasmania. He was superintendent of the Devon Hospital at Latrobe from 1930 to 1939, and here would have wide experience in medical, surgical and obstetrical work. He was an avid reader and applied himself to further study, and would make journeys to Melbourne for postgraduate work. He obtained his Master of Surgery degree in 1932, was admitted FRACS in 1935, and in 1937, went overseas visiting hospitals in Great Britain and the USA.

In 1939, he joined Dr HI Holmes at Warrnambool who, as well as doing general practice, had a large surgical practice serving western Victoria, to which Berry was to succeed, in due course. He was admitted MRACP by examination in 1940.

In 1940, he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force, and went overseas with the 2/7 Australian General Hospital serving in the Middle East. As a member of the surgical team (with Major Tom Giblin), he was working with a section of the 2/3 Casualty Clearing Station close to the front line at the Battle of Alamein, this arrangement ensuring that seriously wounded would receive surgical attention often within half an hour of being wounded.

In 1944, he returned to the practice at Warrnambool, and was later joined in partnership by Dr Ian Holt. He built up a fine reputation as a surgeon, and was involved in the development of the hospital in the post- war years.

Berry was a short stocky man, very active physically, and surgery was always his first love. Cheerful and gregarious by nature, his relaxation after a hard day's work was a keenly fought game of bridge. He died in 1960, while still actively engaged in his practice, from malignancy of the bladder. He was married, with a small family.