6 April 1924 – 15 March 2014
obituary
Member for 67 years
DR E.H. (HUMPHRY) CRAMOND MBE OAM MBBS MRCGP FRACGP FACRRM FAMA Dr E.H. (Humphry) Cramond held the position of Vice President of AMA Queensland when he died peacefully in RBWH after a very short illness. His quiet and dedicated commitment to his family, the AMA, medicine and to the broader communities in which he was involved provided an inspiration to those fortunate enough to interact with him and to experience first-hand his exceptional qualities. Humphry Cramond was born in Townsville on 6 April 1924, the second child of Stuart and Mary Cramond. The family moved to Brisbane when Humphry was five years old and tragically, his father died four years later. Humphry was educated at St Joseph’s College Nudgee and he always remained a proud and loyal Nudgee old boy. It was here at Nudgee that his interest in literary matters first became apparent, as well as his interest in sport. Both were further evident during his years at University where he won a half blue and represented Queensland at basketball. His literary talents were seen as editor of Trephine, the Journal of the University of Queensland Medical Society (UQMS) and the editor of Semper Floreat, the magazine of the Student Union. In later years Humphry gave many hours to AMA Queensland as its Honorary Librarian and Honorary Archivist. As President of the UQMS, Humphry’s commitment to his colleagues and his profession was seen when the students took Queensland Health to court – and won obtaining an award for doctors of a 54 hour week averaged over 4 weeks ie no overtime until the doctor had worked 216 hours. After graduating in Medicine from the University of Queensland in 1947, Dr Humphry Cramond spent two years at the Brisbane Hospital and the Hospital for Sick Children (now RBWH and RCH) before going to Bundaberg Hospital. After marrying 42
MAY 2014 DoctorQ
Margaret Shalcross, a Brisbane nurse, Humphry moved to Dalby where he became Medical Superintendent of Dalby Hospital and so began Humphry and Margaret’s long and committed association with Dalby and its community. Firstly as Medical Superintendent and then in private practice in Dalby, Humphry, as is typical of rural doctors, did everything from emergency surgery to the management of heart attack and road trauma and delivered a great number of Dalbyites as was remembered by some of ‘his babies’ who attended his funeral. He served on the Dalby Hospital Board and Ambulance Training Committee and established the first coronary care unit outside a metropolitan area. He was an Alderman on the Dalby Council for 20 years, serving as Deputy Mayor for 15 years and was Chairman of the Health Committee. As well as his professional activities, he supported many other community activities in Dalby particularly through Apex of which he was President, and the Endeavour Foundation and the Bush Children’s Health Scheme and was an active contributor to the Dalby Swimming Club assisting in the training even in icy Dalby winters. Humphry and Margaret were integral in the Dalby community and their home provided a loving environment for their four children,
Virginia, Phillip, Izzy and Gordon. Sadly two of their children died, Virginia as a neonate and Phillip aged six years, and then tragically Margaret also died in 1981 while awaiting cardiac surgery. Dr Humphry Cramond joined the Queensland Branch of the BMA on graduation in 1947 and gave long and valued service to the profession through the BMA and since 1962 through the Queensland Branch of the Australian Medical Association. He established and for many years chaired the Dalby Local Medical Association. He served on AMA Queensland Branch Council for five years and represented Queensland as a Federal Councillor in 1985. He was President of the Queensland Branch of the AMA in 1984-85 commuting from Dalby to fulfil this demanding role. He was awarded a Fellowship of the AMA in 1982 for his service to the profession and the Association. In 1993 the Council of AMA Queensland honoured his significant commitment to the Association over many years by asking him to become a Vice President of the Queensland Branch of the AMA. Humphry provided many, many years of advice and assistance, and action on behalf of the AMA. He was Honorary Librarian from 1985, Chairman of the Historical Committee and a source of great wisdom on all things AMA including the detailed preparation of the Memorial Roll read out each year at the Formal AGM of the Association.
Humphry gave unstintingly of his time, wisdom and expertise to support his profession, a commitment he then shared with Tess.