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Obituaries
Dr Brian Willoughby Walklate OAM (OW1941)
19/10/1925 - 11/09/2021
The son of Rev. Cyril and Irene Walklate (Cyril was a Wesleyan Minister of long standing and friend of Arthur Adamson), Brian matriculated from Wesley in 1941 at the age of 16, before being accepted into Medicine at the University of Melbourne in 1942 (still aged 16!) to commence his Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery.
Failing his first year (‘I passed first year billiards!’ he would say), Brian spent the war years as a medical orderly in the Navy and by war’s end was readmitted to his medical studies. Graduating in 1952, the then 27-year-old Dr Brian Walklate would go on to serve as the local GP for the east Wimmera community of Charlton and its surrounds from 1953 until his retirement in 2010 at the age of 85.
With a career spanning 57 years providing 24/7 service to his local community, Brian was a much-respected stalwart and advocate for his community. Surgery and obstetrics were Brian’s special areas of interest and the muchneeded skills of the ‘bush doctor’ serving a rural community. Through the period of his life’s work, it has been estimated he was involved with over 2000 neonatal deliveries. Whilst running his small medical practice, often as the sole doctor for the town, Brian would have many student doctors placed with him as he assisted them on their pathway into medicine.
Brian participated in the many facets of rural town life and was looked upon as a community leader, involved in many local projects. He would serve on various local committees including as President of the Charlton Bush Nursing Hospital, eventually becoming a Life Governor. A foundation member of the Charlton Rotary Club, Brian was an active Rotarian, and both he and wife Mary were acknowledged for their contribution with a Paul Harris Fellowship in 1988.
In 1994, the town honoured him as its Citizen of the Year. In 2006, Brian was awarded an OAM for his dedication to the community in various capacities, and in 2014, at the age of 89, Brian again stepped up to serve the Rotary Club as its President.
With Mary, his wife of 71 years, they enjoyed a long and happy marriage raising their four children - Sue, Rick (OW1972), Jan and Phil (OW1979). Aged 95, Brian passed away on 11 September 2021 in Charlton. His was a life spent in service to others.
Contributed by Philip Walklate (OW1979)