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The Naval Association

of Australia

VALE – SURGEON CAPTAIN ‘Sandy’ Ferguson AM RANR Rtd –

Former Federal President of the NAA 1975 - 1990

AUSTEN (SANDY) STEWART FERGUSON AM RFD VRD (with Clasp)

13 January 1917 – 29 May 2008

Austen Ferguson attended Geelong Church of England Grammar School before going on to University of Melbourne. Austen became a member of the Commonwealth Military Forces 1939 – 1943. Austen graduated from Trinity College in 1942 then became a Resident Medical Officer at Alfred Hospital in Melbourne. In 1944 he was appointed Registrar. As a Lieutenant Surgeon RANR he served in the South West Pacific Area including Borneo & Phillipines on HMAS Manoora, HMAS Doomba, HMAS Rushcutter, HMAS Lonsdale, then Medical Officer in Charge, Naval Officer Hospital, Inverloch 1945. Sandy was Medical Officer-In-Charge of many Naval Establishments, HMAS Cerberus being his final posting.

He said goodbye to his active naval days in 1998

In 1946 he was appointed Medical Superintendant, this included being a Lecturer in Anatomy, Physiology and Infectious Diseases at the Nurses’ Training School, Alfred Hospital at the same time he was an Honorary Anaesthetist at the Royal Women’s Hospital 1946 – 51, and Honorary Anaesthetist at Prince Henry’s (1946 – 1949) and Repatriation General Hospital 1946 – 1954.

Sandy Ferguson had a long connection with the sporting arena as Medical Officer at Melbourne Stadium 1947 – 49, Medical Officer 1956 Olympic Games, Medical Officer Hawthorn Football Club 1949 – 80, Medical Officer VFL 1949 – 80, Medical Officer Hawthorn-East Melbourne Cricket Club 1950 – 81. President of VFL Medical Officers Association 1960 – 80, President Hawthorn Football Club 1952 – 67, Honorary Life Member of Hawthorn Football Club and Honorary Life Member VFL. Sandy was the Foundation President of Hawthorn Football Club - Social Club and an Honorary Life Member.

During this time he was still a member of the RANR, and his promotion to Surgeon Captain was announced by the Minister for the Navy, Mr Don Chipp to take effect from 30^th June 1968.

Following this announcement Sandy was appointed Medical Consultant – Australian Government Rehabilitation Service – 1972 - 82, admitted as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Health and a Fellow Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, a member of Victorian Faculty Board, Royal Australian College of General Practitioners 1962 & 1966 – 1974, being Vice Chairman 1969, Chairman 1970 – 72, and Provost 1973.

He received a Diploma of Physical Medicine (London) in 1975 and was a Foundation Fellow – Australian Sports Medicine Federation 1984. Dr Austen (Sandy) Stewart

Ferguson was appointed to the Board of Management of the Freemasons Hospital in 1975 and was a Consultant on the Arthritis and Injuries Unit in 1980.

Dr Ferguson’s positions as Chairman of the Eastern Suburbs Australian Medical Association 1957 – 59, Divisional Surgeon – St John’s Ambulance Brigade 1951 – 1981, Lecturer (Post Graduate Course) in Physical and Sports Medicine Royal Australian College of G.P.’s since 1965 and President Australian Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (Victorian Section since 1985) are known – but his Community service is little known to a lot of people - Trustee of City of Hawthorn Community Chest since its Foundation in 1958, Trustee and Chairman of the Medical Consultant Panel of the Shepherd Foundation since its Foundation in 1969, but the invitation from Sir Edward Dunlop AC Kt GCSJ CMG OBE to join the newly formed “Sir Edward Dunlop Medical Research Foundation” was the peak for Sandy Ferguson.

Sir Edward wanted people who had wide medical experience and invited him to join the new Medical Research Committee as an advisor in 1985 and Sandy Ferguson only stood down from this position when his health started to deteriorate in 2002.

Sandy joined the Melbourne Sub-Section of the Ex-Naval Men’s Association in 1946 and was invited to stand as its President in 1967 and was President from 1968 – 74 until he was nominated as Federal President by Captain Eric Nave OBE, who after 15 years as Federal President thought it better for the Naval Association of Australia (name change in 1960) for someone younger to lead the Association into the future. He was nominated for the Diploma of Merit, which was approved at the Federal Council on 21st May 1975, and awarded Life Membership on 21^st November 1984. Sandy was also one of the first members from Victoria to be nominated for the Meritorious Service Medal, this was presented at a meeting of Dandenong Sub-Section in 1992 and the certificate in 2003.

He was appointed Federal President on Friday 21^st March 1975. He was renominated in 1978, 1981, 1984, 1987 and stood down after chairing the 1990 Federal Conference opened by Governor General Bill Hayden AC at HMAS Moreton on Monday 17^th March 1990.

Sandy Ferguson was Principle Medical Officer at HMAS Lonsdale since 1968 until closure in the early 1990 and also at HMAS Cerberus until a serious car accident in which a lorry hit his car and caused $32,500 damage, Sandy had learned how to use a mobile phone and rang Andrew his son to come and pick him up as he had been in an accident, as he had to get to HMAS Cerberus. Andrew set off to find his father and came across a major traffic jam, so he used the emergency lane and eventually found his father standing in the middle of the Monash Freeway directing traffic (In full Navy Whites) the police officer at the scene said leave him he is doing a better job than we can. Sandy because of his

injuries wasn’t able to continue as Principle Medical Officer at HMAS Cerberus. This also brought Sandy Naval Career to a close.

In 1983 Sandy was nominated to the selection committee to evaluate and nominate a suitable design for the Naval Memorial in Anzac Parade, Canberra. Her Majesty the Queen unveiled the Memorial on 3rd March 1986, prior to the unveiling he attended Government House with the Federal Secretary to present the Duke of Edinburgh with a Life Members Certificate, the LM Badge had been presented by Captain Nave OBE in February 1965 .

During the whole of his term as Federal President he showed generosity in his advice and knowledge available to all members of the Naval Association of Australia, and when asked to members of other organisations as well.

Sandy was a member of the Melbourne Naval Centre Committee from 1957 until 2003 and for many years, and was Chairman from 1988 until 1998, he was awarded Life Membership of the Melbourne Naval Centre at this time.

Sandy was awarded the Volunteer Reserve Decoration 1963, and clasp 1973. In the Australia Honours List of 26^th January 1989 he was awarded the AM.

Sandy Ferguson was diagnosed with cancer of the pancreas in 1985. His surgeon suggested a change of medication which was successful but it was a combination of medical problems that eventually claimed his life on the 29^th May 2008.

Ray Gill JP

State President –Victoria - 3^rd June 2008

They have no grave but the cruel sea

No flowers lay at their head

A rusting hulk is their tombstone

Afast on the ocean bed

We Will Remember Them

“LEST WE FORGET”