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Emeritus Consultants Biographies
Hector Stewart was born in Victoria in November 1901 the son of Hector Joseph Stewart, a mining engineer and Maggie Russell nee Robertson. The family moved to Wagin in Western Australia when Hector was eight years old. He had a brilliant scholastic career entering Perth Modern School in 1914 having topped the secondary schools scholarship examination. He was subsequently the dux of the school. After starting an engineering course at the University of W.A. he decided to change to medicine and went to Melbourne where he graduated in 1926. For the next three years he worked at the Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, following this he went to London to study for the Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons which he obtained in 1930. Hector returned to Perth where he was appointed Medical Superintendent of the Royal Perth Hospital a position he held until 1934 when he entered private practice and was made an honorary surgeon to the hospital. Hector served the hospital in that capacity until he retired in 1961 when he was appointed Emeritus Consultant Surgeon. He was also surgeon to the Fremantle and Repatriation Hospitals. He was recognized by his colleagues as a strong quiet character who gave a great deal not only to his patients but also to those who worked with him. During the Second World War he held the rank of Lieut Colonel in the RAAMC. Hector was a general surgeon throughout his career at a time when specialization was beginning to emerge first in Neurosurgery and Thoracic surgery. Hector made a major contribution to the administration of the Royal Perth Hospital being a member of the Hospital Board 1951-1962 and its Deputy Chairman 1954 -1962. As such he was closely involved with the University of Western Australia in the creation of the Medical School in 1957. He was a member of the Senate of the University 1963 - 1975 and was Pro-Chancellor 1971 -1974. Outside of medicine he was interested in sailing, golf and bowls. Hector married Viotti Winifred Wheatley in 1935 and they had three sons and a daughter. One son Ian Hector is an orthopaedic surgeon. For his great service to the Hospitals, the University and to the practice of surgery Hector was knighted in 1976. He died in November 1979. |
