Queen Mary’s Hospital Archives

How I made good in Australia, some reminiscences – By Dr Harold Gunatillake Written by Dr Harold Gunatillake OAM FRCS,FIACS,FICS,AM(Sing), MBBS(Cey) In 1969, I returned to the island with my fellowship degree and much training with one of the famous surgeons in London, Mr Norman Tanner, and as Senior registrar at Queen Mary’s Hospital Orthopaedics. I still recollect the interview for the selection of Senior Orthopedic Registrar at Queen Mary’s, sitting in front of a panel of professionals and administrators, and over 50 doctors sitting in the waiting room waiting for their interview for a single position, many locally qualified Britons. I was asked, “Mr Gun, what are your plans coming from Ceylon seeking positions in hospitals in the UK?” My prompt reply was that I have been sent to the UK for specialised training to obtain the fellowship degree, return to Ceylon, and spread the ‘Gospel of the ...

How I made good in Australia, some reminiscences – Dr. Harold Gunatillake Dr. Harold Gunatillake In 1969, I returned to the island with my fellowship degree and intensive training with one of the famous surgeons in London, Mr Norman Tanner, having served as Senior Registrar at Queen Mary’s Hospital Orthopaedics. I still recollect the interview for the selection for this post, sitting in front of a panel of professionals and administrators and over 50 applicants sitting in the waiting room waiting for their interview for a single position. Many of them were locally qualified Britons. I was asked, “Mr Gun, what are your plans coming from Ceylon seeking positions in hospitals in the UK?” My prompt reply was that I have been sent to the UK for specialized training to obtain the fellowship degree, return to Ceylon, and spread the ‘Gospel of the training obtained’ to serve my people. Further, ...