DR BRYCE COOPER
Dr Cooper served Quirindi and district as a general practitioner for 41 years, but was also a talented sportsman, representing Sydney University in the first-grade cricket competition, athletics, baseball, and swimming. In 1929 he was selected in the NSW Sheffield Shield cricket team, captained by Alan Kippax and alongside international players Archie Jackson, Donald Bradman, and Alan Fairfax. Dr Cooper opened the bowling for NSW. He was also offered the opportunity to travel to England and play with the Australian team. Unfortunately, he had to decline this offer as his plan was to remain in England for work experience, and it was a proviso that the team travel both to and from England together.
Leaving Brisbane in June 1932 for England, Dr Cooper was Assistant Ship’s Doctor on board the “Port Bowen”. Once in London, he worked as a casualty officer at the National Temperance Hospital, and as House Surgeon for the Royal Waterloo Hospital for Women and Children. He served as Ship’s Medical Officer on his return to Australia, leaving Christmas Eve 1934.
Dr Cooper spent most of his working life in Quirindi, from early 1935, when he took over Dr Hessell Howell’s practice at 8 Dalley Street, until his retirement to Sydney in 1975 due to ill health. He was born in Lewisham, Sydney in 1905 and studied Medicine at Sydney University. He trained at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Royal Women’s Hospital and Prince Henry Hospital.
Although a general practitioner, Dr Cooper was also a specialist in gynaecology. He is said to have delivered some 3,000 babies in the Quirindi district. When he first came to Quirindi, obstetrics was mostly done in the home until addition of an obstetrics block at the hospital.
Some stories from Dr Cooper’s Memoirs, published in Quirindi Advocate, June 30, 1976 on his retirement, include a trip beyond Caroona through floodwaters to treat a patient. “He drove his English Austin 6 to the railway bridge, crossed the railway line by train, transferred to horseback and with his bag sitting on the saddle pummel eventually got to treat the patient…” Another was an accident north of Wallabadah on the highway where he found “an upturned panel van and two ‘green people’ wandering about…” The publican and his wife from Wallabadah had been to Tamworth, where they had purchased green paint, spilling out when the vehicle overturned.
A farewell was held at Quirindi Pavilion upon Dr Cooper’s retirement, attended by around 400 people, “a testimonial to his position in the community. The Pavilion was beautifully decorated by members of the Quirindi Garden Club with two big arrangements on the stage and table decorations on the supper tables”. (Over the Teacups – Quirindi Advocate June 30, 1976)
Whilst in Quirindi and district he was actively involved in the golf club, tennis club, swimming club and bowling club.
Dr Cooper passed away in Sydney on May 19, 1995
Quirindi Historical Cottage and Museum has a collection of medical instruments used by Dr Cooper in his medical practice, including a stethoscope, tweezers, scissors, scalpels and other small items. His brass professional plate hangs in the hallway. More recent donations include the NSW Sheffield Cricket Team pullover worn by Dr Cooper whilst playing in 1929 and a framed photograph of the team.
