Brunswick Heads

On the Pacific coast, Brunswick Heads in its early days was virtually the entry port for people to move on to nearby, inland Mullumbimby. In the 1950s and 1960s, Dr LW Alderman had a branch practice there attended by him or an associate.

Duncan D Gibson

Duncan David Gibson, MB, ChM (Sydney 1906), having practised in Mullumbimby from 1909 till 1957, retired to Brunswick Heads in 1957 but he continued to ‘see a few patients’ there until 1962, when he became quite ill. He died in Mullumbimby Hospital in 1965, aged eighty-five.

Lawrence W Alderman

In 1972, Lawrence William (Bill) Alderman, MB, BS (QLD 1944), FRACGP, reduced his clinical load in Mullumbimby and spent more time in Brunswick Heads, in his rooms next to the hotel in Mullumbimbi Street. He sold the practice in 1980 to Dr R Dubow.

David J Stephen

David Johnston Stephen, MB, BS (NZ 1950), DPH, opened a branch of his Mullumbimby practice in the same building in Mullumbimbi Street in the early 1970s.

Brian G Wall

In 1975, Brian George Wall, MB, ChB (St Andrew’s Uni, Scotland 1964), FRACGP 1975, FP Cert, Cert. Civil Aviation, started practice in Brunswick Heads, in Mullumbimbi Street.

After residencies at Bridge of Earn Hospital and Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle, he had been Medical Officer in the State of Sabah, 1965–1968, Registrar at Clatterbridge Hospital, Cheshire 1968–1970 and St James’ Hospital, Leeds in 1970–1972, before working in general practice in Tasmania, 1973–1975. Dr Wall continued as a GP and also did confinements at Mullumbimby Hospital until 1980.

He enjoyed working in the area with the two distinctly different conservative and alternative lifestyles and had a total change of pace in 1981, when he went to Saudi Arabia.

Jacob A Poutsma

Jacob Albertus Poutsma (‘Jaap’), MB, BS (Melbourne 1952), BSc (maj. Psychology, Melbourne 1969), took over the practice of Dr Stephen in 1979. He was born in Indonesia and after his first year of engineering at university, was in the Dutch Fleet Air Arm from 1942–1946, being a POW at Macassar for nearly four years.

He came to Australia and did medicine, followed by his residency at Prince Henry’s Hospital, Melbourne in 1952–1953. He worked in the Victorian Department of Mental Hygiene, then the post of Surgical Assistant at Footscray Hospital, after which he practised as a GP in Footscray. Dr Poutsma also practised in obstetrics, hypnotherapy, counselling and acupuncture.

He lived on his farm and had many interests including aviation medicine, fixed wing flying and gliding, piano playing and extensive reading.

Robin J Dubow

In 1980, Robin Jonathan (Bob) Dubow, MB, BS (Sydney 1975), took over the rooms of Dr Alderman, near the hotel. He had served in the RAN previously.

He worked as a solo family doctor with obstetrics and anaesthetics at Mullumbimby Hospital. In 1984, he went to Christmas Island and then the Northern Territory. His practice was taken over by Dr J Holmes.

Stephen J Rabone

Stephen John Rabone, MB, BS (Sydney 1975), practised from 1982 with Dr Poutsma for three years, doing family medicine. He moved to South Australia.

John G Holmes

In 1984, John Gerard Holmes, MB, BS (NSW 1981), took over Dr Dubow’s practice. He had been a Resident Medical Officer at Lismore Base Hospital and then started in general practice in Brunswick Heads.

Michelle C Coker

Dr Holmes was joined by Michelle Caroline Coker, MB, BS (NSW 1981), DObst RACOG and they moved later to establish the first general practice in the fast-growing Ocean Shores township, across the river.

John F Gall

In 1984, John Francis Gall, MB, BS (Sydney 1952), set up a solo practice in rooms on the highway. He was a third-generation medico and after his residency at Kurri Kurri Hospital in 1952–1953, practised in Moree until 1984.

Then he decided on a literal sea change and less hectic clinical schedule, thus allowing himself for the first time in many years to engage in golf, bowls, bodysurfing and bridge.