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I contributed to the radical change of outcome in childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia from a fatal disease in virtually all patients, to one with a cure rate of 90%. I was also involved in major changes in outcome for the better in all childhood cancers and elimination of irradiation in childhood Hodgkin disease. My unit was the first in Australia to use autologous bone marrow transplantation for treatment of Lymphomas and Acute Myeloid Leukaemia. We studied the toxic effects of chemotherapy and irradiation on physical and intellectual development of children. In this way I was the leader and part of the team that saved the lives of some two thousand children in Victoria. My other contribution to improving the quality of life in children was in Haemophilia A and B with development of new modalities of replacement therapy and home treatment. These allowed hospital dependent children to become independent and confident. Despite the HIV crisis which hit in 1983 we were able to help these children to recovery and freedom from disease.
I was guided to my specialty by Dr.John Colebatch who supported me in my early years at the Children's Hospital. He was a great believer in the need for children to have long rest periods and early nights. A vivid memory is that of a little boy in a cot jumping up and down with great glee while shouting, "I am resting my red cells for Doctor Colebatch".