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College Roll Bio

Freeman, William John


Qualifications
MB BS Melb (1926) MRACP (1943)
Born
07/03/1899
Died
03/06/1957

William John Freeman was born in Hobart, one of a large family of eleven. He was educated at Hutchins School in Hobart and Ormond College in Melbourne. He was an excellent athlete at Melbourne University. He was a resident medical officer at the Launceston General Hospital and following this started practice in Hobart. He developed an interest in psychiatry and did postgraduate training in the Royal Bethlem Hospital in London. He subsequently returned to Hobart and was engaged in the management of psychiatric and neurological cases. When I first met Dr Freeman, shortly after World War II, I was immediately impressed by his pleasant quietly spoken manner; he was always immaculate, usually sported a buttonhole rose, was quiet and modest. He was an excellent host, a true bon vivant.

Bill Freeman instituted a private psychiatric nursing home which he ran without any partners. Although this venture was most successful and helped the patients, it did place a great strain on a man who was by nature sensitive and dedicated. His work in his private nursing home caused him to withdraw more from his colleagues and it was a great shock to the other physicians in Hobart when he died interstate at a relatively early age.

Freeman was at one stage a medical officer attached to HM Gaol. He witnessed the last hanging in Tasmania as it was necessary for a medical officer to be in attendance. I have no doubt that the remembrance of this horrifying spectacle must have had a long-term effect on him. He was survived by two children, one of whom (John) is a Fellow of the College.

Author

LW KNIGHT

References

Last Updated

May 30, 2018, 17:37 PM
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