A Gift to the College

Dr Bruce Kynaston

MB BS, FRACR 1968 (now FRANZCR), FRCR, FRACMA

27/04/1931–09/04/2022

Please see JMIRO for a full obituary by Dr Robert (Nobby) Bourne

In 1978, the recently deceased Dr Bruce Kynaston presented the College with a cross-stitch crest of his own making, which still hangs in the College's Sydney office, 44 years later.

By means of a record in the College archives, Dr Kynaston recounts the making of his extraordinary gift pictured on 10 June 2022.

“Not too long before this time, the College had acquired the lease of the property at 37, Lower Fort St in Millers Point, Sydney, for its home.

The Executive invited members to consider if there was some small thing that an individual might wish to do towards this end. I was so bold to offer to work the College arms in cross stitch for a cushion cover for the presidential chair for the proposed Council Room. The Executive Secretary, Miss Brenda Richardson, quietly indicated to me that it would be more appropriate for such a work to be hung on the wall than be hidden under the president, or words to that effect. My response was that I should like to contemplate the matter further as the class of work would have to be much better. I duly offered, and was accepted without any real review of my capacity, which was at that stage rather limited.

It proved an interesting challenge. Progress colour slides were sent to the office from time to time and at no stage did Executive shriek: Enough! So, after some 400 hours of spare time (time was logged just to see what was involved) the work was completed.

Consultation with Dr John Masel, President for 1977–78 year and a Queenslander resulted in permission to seek and ultimately purchase a pair of paintings

in matching frames so that the 24 inch square canvas could be duly mounted in old framing. That eventually found was probably produced early this century and my father was certain a German process of impressing the pattern on the timber with a roller had been involved as in one place the process went off course a trifle. It looked like a carved/machined pattern.

The Queensland Branch resolved to meet the expenses and a grateful patient of mine, a furniture maker, assembled the framing after trimming the long sides of both original frames. My wife, Gwyn, who had done a wood finishing course, assisted with the coating of the new frame. At the formal session of the Annual General Meeting in Sydney in 1978, the finished product was unveiled and the details of the Crest, the Arms, the Supporters and the Motto were explained. In all, the final result was well received and I was pleased with it. I had learned much on canvas embroidery during the 'process'.”