Emeritus Consultants Biographies

Alec Letts DAWKINS, OBE. ED. Kt. St. John Universities of Adelaide & Liverpool MB.BS 1927 MCh (Orth) 1936. FRCS (Ed). 1931 FRACS 1935. Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon

Alec Dawkins was born at Hamley Bridge, South Australia in 1905 the son of a medical practitioner.  He attended Prince Alfred's College and then entered Adelaide University as a medical student in 1923.  He was a keen sportsman and as Inter-Varsity Captain, he gained his Blue for lacrosse.

Following his residency at Adelaide Hospital, he did postgraduate work in London and Edinburgh and obtained his FRCS(Ed) in 1931.  Returning to the Adelaide Hospital in 1932 he was appointed Surgical Clinical Assistant and then Honorary Assistant Pathologist.  He obtained his FRACS in 1935 and in 1936 went to Liverpool where he obtained his MCh (Orth).  Returning to Adelaide, he practiced as an orthopaedic surgeon and then in 1939 moved to Perth, as Honorary Assistant Orthopaedic Surgeon at both the Royal Perth Hospital and Princess Margaret Hospital for Children.

Alec Dawkins had a long association with the Army which dated back to 1923.  He saw active service in the Middle East during the Second World War and in 1945 was Director of Medical Services, New Guinea, New Britain and Bougainville with the rank of Brigadier.

He had an association with the Order of St John dating from 1932 and was President from 1945-54 and Commissioner (WA) to 1966. After the War he resumed his appointment at the Royal Perth Hospital and by 1953 was Senior Orthopaedic Surgeon.  In 1960 a Department of Orthopaedics was formed at the Royal Perth Hospital and Alec Dawkins remained its Head until his retirement in 1965.

Alec Dawkins was President of the BMA (WA Branch) from 1953-54, President of the Australian Orthopaedic Association 1966, Chairman Honorary Medical Staff (PMH) 1954-56 and a member of numerous hospital advisory committees.

In 1940 he married Muriel, the daughter of the late Sir Ernest Lee Steere.  They had five sons. Roger studied medicine and became the Inaugural Professor of Immunology at the University of Western Australia.  John entered politics and became Treasurer in the Keating Labour Government.

Alec Dawkins died in 1975.