Classnotes - 1960's
Samuel Bali (PhC 1966) is semi-retired after having a business in Pascoe Vale for 37 years. In June 2006, he had the great honour of becoming a life member of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia.
Professor Alexander Bobik (BPharm 1969) worked in retail pharmacy before completing his Masters and PhD and taking up a research position at The Alfred. During 34 years of a joint appointment between the hospital and the Baker Heart Research Institute, he has published more than 200 research papers on hypertension, atherosclerosis and vascular biology. He runs an internationally renowned laboratory and is on the editorial boards of many journals including the American Heart Association's journal, Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology, and the European Society of Cardiology journal, Cardiovascular Research. Currently associate director of the Alfred Baker Medical Unit at The Alfred and Baker Heart Research Institute, he is also a professor in the Department of Medicine and the Department of Immunology at Monash University. October 2008
Joy Burman (nee Silvester) (PhC1964, GradDipCommPharm 1985), one of the last pharmacy apprentices, spent her first year studying at the old Swanston Street campus. She worked for various employers, with a career highlight being supervising extra training seminars for trainees of the Terry White Group in 1997 and 1998. She spent five years working for the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (Victorian branch), managing the Pharmavision Continuing Education Library, and many years assisting on the continuing education committee. After retiring from pharmacy in 2001, Joy completed a Bachelor of Arts with Monash. October 2008
At the completion of his apprenticeship at RE Charles & Son in Richmond, Ken Cooper (PhC 1961) worked as a community pharmacist supplying the Epworth and Bethesda Hospitals until their amalgamation in the mid 1980's. He continued working as a community pharmacist at the Epworth and later in Scoresby before joining the Casey Medical Centre in Cranbourne. He was a volunteer pharmacist in the athlete’s village during the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne 2006 and a locum for the Community Pharmacy Group in Wantirna South until his retirement in 2009. He is member of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, the Australian College of Pharmacy, a Fellow of the Society of Hospital Pharmacists, keen lawn bowler and grandfather of three grandchildren. June 2013
Harold Dennis (PhC 1964) Harold retired from his Wodonga pharmacy in 2001 and now breeds Angus cattle on his farm Esold Park in Staghorn Flat. Harold and wife Esther are enjoying their nine grandchildren and Harold has taken up wood turning in his spare time. October 2008
After graduating Helen Exarchos-Jacobs (nee Exarchos) (PhC 1969) undertook her traineeship with Martin and Pleasance in Northland Shopping Centre. In 1974 she moved to the Royal Children's Hospital (RCH). She studied for a Diploma in Hospital Administration and later became Senior Pharmacist in charge of outpatients at the RCH. During her time at the hospital, Helen also became a partner in a retail pharmacy at the RCH complex before retiring from pharmacy in 1993. She is a member of many organisations including the Soroptimist International Society, National Gallery Society, Australian Society of Decorative and Fine Arts, The Johnson Collection and the National Trust. She retains an interest in the ballet and opera. In conjunction with the University of Melbourne, Helen has set up the Stanley Jacobs Trust for Orthodontic Research in memory of her late husband. December 2010
Mary Hemming (PhC 1965) Mary is the CEO of Therapeutic Guidelines Ltd. She was a key member of the team responsible for the concept and evolution of Therapeutic Guidelines and has guided the enterprise for many years, transforming it from a government-funded venture into an independent self-sustaining not-for-profit organisation that is both nationally and internationally recognised. Mary was also a member of the original PHARM Committee that developed the first drafts of the National Medicines Policy. October 2008
After completing his final year, Roger James (PhC 1961) worked in community pharmacy, where he became proprietor of the Templestowe Pharmacy until 1976. He then joined Rocke Tasuprett and Co Ltd as marketing manager before becoming state manager. In 1988, he became CEO of the Victorian Hospital Association (Trading Division) and in 1998 CEO of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (Victorian branch). Following retirement in 2002, Roger was appointed chairman of the Western Port Seagrass Partnership Ltd, a research organisation concerned with the degradation of the bay, and adviser to the Member for Kew in the Parliament of Victoria. October 2008
Michael Jobling (PhC 1961) managed a Melbourne retail pharmacy before operating pharmacies in Ascot Vale and in Preston. He studied theology and was ordained an Anglican priest in 1970, maintaining his pharmacy registration and continuing to practise until 1981. He was a parish priest for seven years before joining an Anglican Family Services agency, establishing marriage education services throughout the Diocese of Melbourne. In 1973 he was involved in setting up the Maroondah Social Health Centre, the first community health centre in Victoria, and obtained his Bachelor of Social Work in 1986. He was executive director of the Victorian Marriage Guidance Council for five years before establishing a private practice in marriage and family therapy with his wife Heather in 1991 and obtaining further qualifications as an accredited mental health social worker. January 2013
Dr John McEwen (PhC 1962) completed his pharmacy training and worked in retail pharmacy while undertaking further studies in science and medicine, graduating in 1976. Following graduation he became a resident medical officer at the Royal Melbourne Hospital before joining the Commonwealth Department of Health. He lives in Canberra and works part-time as an adviser at the Therapeutic Goods Administration, from which he retired as Principal Medical Adviser in 2005. He teaches in the pharmacy course at the University of Canberra and gave an invited lecture at the International Society of Pharmaco vigilance meeting in Istanbul in October 2011. His spare time is occupied with gardening and occasional trips to New Caledonia, where his wife was born.
Before owning and operating retail pharmacy businesses in East Oakleigh and Mossman (Qld), Sue Need (nee Muir) (PhC 1967, BPharm 1971) worked in hospital pharmacy. She also undertook locum work in remote areas of Far North Queensland. In Mossman, Sue was involved at committee level with various community groups including the Chamber of Commerce, Blue Care, the Police Consultative Committee and the Douglas Shire Tourism Association. She is now retired in Port Douglas and recently completed a Master of Professional Accounting. Sue's major interest is her garden, volunteering in the propagation of native plants for revegetation at the local council nursery, and helping set up a community garden.
David Newgreen (PhC 1964, BPharm 1969) works part time with the Pharmacy Board of Victoria and co-authored its history. David is a member of the Medicines Evaluation Committee and has written several major reviews for the Therapeutic Goods Administration as well as drawing up Fiji's new medicines and pharmacy legislation, in conjunction with La Trobe University. He lectures in forensic pharmacy and would like a holiday in Canada. October 2008
Elizabeth Ollquist (nee Page) (PhC 1967) married Ross Ollquist (PhC 1964) in 1966 and they took an extended break to relieve Queensland pharmacists. On their return they started the first pharmacy in Churchill, Gippsland, which was difficult because there was no full-time doctor in the small community. The Ollquists' pharmacy grew to employ about 20 people as the town expanded. Elizabeth served as a councillor of the City of Morwell for over five years, was a member of many community organisations and raised four children. In 2000, she was awarded a Centenary Medal for her contributions to Australian society. Elizabeth and Ross, who were members of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, sold their shop in 2002. Elizabeth is still registered and does the odd day in the pharmacy. December 2010
After Frank O'Sullivan (PhC 1964) graduated, he managed pharmacies in Box Hill and Colac before moving to a pharmacy in Camberwell, which he managed and then purchased. For eight years he lived above the business, one of the last resident chemists in Melbourne. After 33 years, he sold the business in 1999 and began working full time conducting home medication reviews and residential medication management reviews throughout metropolitan Melbourne, a job that he continues part time today. In 1990, Frank began dispensing methadone through his pharmacy, generating an interest in the important role that pharmacists play in combating drug addiction. This led to a position on the Board of Odyssey House, a role he has held for the past three years. October 2008
Toni (Pauline) Pusterla (PhC 1962) went on to further study after graduating, completing her Bachelor of Arts at Monash University and Bachelor of Architecture at RMIT University. She now uses her own alpaca fleece to weave fabrics, from which she designs and creates items for exhibition. Last year, Tony held a joint exhibition at MAD Gallery in Lancefield. Her unique and stunning items were also part of the fashion parade at the inaugural World Alpaca Conference held in Sydney in March 2008. May 2009
One of three pharmacists in his family, David Robinson (PhC 1968) has enjoyed a fulfilling forty year career in community pharmacy. Shortly after graduating, David opened a pharmacy in Doncaster and soon went on to form a partnership with his brother Ian Robinson (PhC 1962) who already owned a pharmacy in Glen Waverley. They sold the Doncaster pharmacy in 1972 and bought Tooronga Village Pharmacy operating both Tooronga and Glen Waverley until Ian’s retirement in 2002, when David’s son Andrew Robinson (BPharm 1999) stepped into his uncle’s shoes. David continued to work until 2007, topping off a career that included being a member of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia and participant in a number of health professional consultation groups run by pharmaceutical companies on new medications. He is retired with three children and loves golf, racehorse breeding and has been a passionate lifelong supporter of Hawthorn Football Club. David fondly remembers the relationships and sense of community that were an integral part of being a community pharmacist. June 2015
Retirement for Didimo Tonelli (BPharm 1968) has been anything but quiet. Having undertaken some sailing and travelling around Australia and overseas, Didimo has gone on to complete his Certificate III in fitness and is now a qualified gym instructor. Didimo and his wife both volunteer as gym instructors and have seen the vast difference exercise has made to the quality of life for the older people in their classes. October 2008
Judy Wilmot (PhC 1966) worked as a locum at many pharmacies before travelling overseas to the work at Barts Hospital in London for 18 months. Upon her return, Judy worked at the Peter MacCallum Institute for three years while completing her Bachelor of Pharmacy (1969). With the love of travel ignited, Judy again left her position to travel for another 12 months. After marrying and while raising her four children, Judy spent almost the next 40 years working part-time in both community and hospital pharmacies. While hospital pharmacy was her passion, the flexibility of community pharmacy allowed her to focus on her family. Prior to her retirement in 2011, Judy engaged in some of her most fulfilling professional work in the outpatients area at The Royal Melbourne Hospital. Now retired, Judy continues to travel the world with her husband, including 3 years in the Middle East, although her favourite spot would have to be somewhere in the Australian outback with a campfire and beautiful scenery. When she’s not travelling around Australia in her 4WD utility and camping unit, Judy loves to spend time with her nine grandchildren, who she says are far more fun than working! December 2014