|
Albert Ernest Coates was the first of seven children born to Arthur and Clara Coates at Mt. Pleasant, Ballarat, attending the primary school there. From humble beginnings, first as a butcher's apprentice and working in a printers, Albert aged 19 volunteered for service in WW1. Served in Egypt, Gallipoli and Flanders as a medical orderly and later with the Intelligence Corps. Back home from WW1 he undertook a medical course (whilst working at night) qualifying with distinction. His chosen field was surgery and he became one of Australia's pioneers in the field of Neurosurgery.
Albert again volunteered for active service in WW2, went as Senior Surgeon with 2/10th AGH of the 8th Division to Malaya. Captured by the Japanese in Sumatra, he was taken to Burma. As an experienced soldier and a highly qualified and experienced surgeon among the many doctors in the POW working camps along the infamous Burma-Siam Railway, he saved hundreds of lives.
Safely home from WW2, Albert Coates resumed his hospital appointment, engaged in a large number of professional, teaching, lecturing and other community activity, and became a leader of the medical profession and a man of affairs in Victoria.'
Sir Albert was a mentor of Sir Edward "Weary" Dunlop, who pays tribute to him in his diaries. In his eulogy at Coates' memorial service Sir Edward Dunlop said "So we have this man, a master surgeon, soldier, teacher, orator, ambassador extraordinary... a man so gifted, so full of spirit and endeavour and so courageous and who gave so much of himself to the public good and our good that his whole life is on a plane so far above the average man... All in all I think we can say 'There was a man, we may not see his like again"
|
 |
