Dr Bruce Pirie Tribute Onlinetributes.com.au

Good morning family and friends.

BRYAN
Edwina and I would like to share some reflections with you on our Dad’s life. A modest man - he wasn’t one for fuss. We have tried to respect his style in today’s service.

So rather than dwell on sadness, we aim to pay tribute to Dad’s caring and purposeful life which spanned nearly a century.

Dad was born on 30th September, 1914 to parents James and Jessie. He was raised in Liverpool at the family home called “Forbesville”. Bruce was the youngest of five children, but his brother Gordon and three sisters, Jean, Betty and Mollie, have since passed away. So Dad’s passing represents the loss of the last member of his family’s generation. It is wonderful to have the families of Dad’s brother and sisters here today. Notably absent is Dad’s nephew, Jim Gilchrist who passed away in June 2007. Dad was very fond of Jim. They had a special bond.

Our grandfather, James Pirie migrated to Liverpool from Scotland in 1896. He was the pioneer doctor for the district until his death in 1943. Dad told us how, as a very young boy, he would accompany his father during his medical rounds on a horse and sulky. Dad remembered visiting the WW1 Internment Camp at Holsworthy. Old Dr Pirie was a much-loved, local identity who received many memorials for his exceptional community service.

EDWINA
After attending Liverpool Public school, Dad started Newington College. But Dad’s time at Newington was brief - when the young school boy somehow fell off the train, his horrified parents sent him to the closer Hurlstone Agricultural High School.

Dad’s father wanted him to be a farmer. But Dad was inspired by his father and other members of his family who sought medical careers. He wanted to be a doctor. But to qualify for the medical entrance exam, he needed to be proficient in Latin. In six months he crammed enough Latin to pass the exam. (This experience gave Dad an abiding dislike of Latin. One of the few times he ever showed a strong reaction against one of my plans was when I suggested taking Latin at school. I did Art instead.)

After the Latin was sorted, Dad then attended the University of Sydney to complete his Bachelor of Medicine in 1939. He undertook post graduate work in the Mater and Crown Street Hospitals before enlisting in the RAAF for war service as a squadron medical
officer.

BRYAN
In sport, Dad was tall, fit and agile. Later on, Mum always said she liked his athletic looking legs. Some of his sporting endeavours included:

• School Rugby Union.

• Combined High School Athletics where he held the under 14s high jumping record for several years and

• The Inter-University Athletics in Hobart in 1937.

I am reminded of the story when Dad stumbled in a school hurdling race. After all his practice, he could not fathom this miscalculation. So he went back and privately measured the distances between hurdles on the track and found significant errors. But this information was just for his own peace of mind - he would never have dreamt of making a protest.

Dad was strongly committed to the value of physical activity. He maintained a daily exercise routine throughout his life as long as he was able.

Regarding his war service, Dad served in the Royal Australian Air Force from 1941 – 1946 as squadron leader. During this time:

1. He was stationed at Point Cook, Laverton, Western Junction Tasmania and Bradfield Park. He was a member of the medical team accompanying Air Force crew trainees to Canada.

2. He also served in New Guinea for the Army Co-op Squadron 4 and the Air Force Division Greenslopes Military Hospital.

EDWINA
In 1947, Dad followed in his father’s footsteps and took over the family practice in Pirie Street, Liverpool. He performed the duties as a Government Medical Officer assisting the Police and the Coroner for over 20 years.

When Dad was nearing retirement, the local paper in Liverpool profiled his career and wrote: “Dr Pirie dispensed heath care in his own deliberate, methodical way. He likes to listen to patients, to hear their problems and get a good history of their illnesses.”
Dad saw many major medical breakthroughs during his career.

He noted the excitement among the medical profession when penicillin was introduced. He applauded the revolutionary impact of vaccines for polio, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough and measles.

Dad was in general practice for 47 years up until his 80th birthday, earning him the distinction as Liverpool’s oldest GP at the time.

Dad had a dry, “Pirie” sense of humour. When asked the secret of his longevity his reply was “to choose your ancestors wisely”.

In his retirement, Dad treated himself as his final case, taking a keen interest in all his medications. When he did go into hospital, he was an exemplary patient; uncomplaining, enjoying his meals and very appreciative of his visitors. He was a favourite of the nurses who said he was “such a gentleman”.

BRYAN
It was on a holiday at Craigieburn near Bowral where Bruce first met Nancy. He was clearly smitten with this pretty and vivacious young lady. Nancy fulfilled her ambition to travel overseas to Europe but Dad eagerly waited for her return.

Bruce and Nancy married on 27 February 1952, a marriage which spanned nearly 58 years. Dad was devoted to Mum and they had a wonderful life together in Cronulla. In all the years they were married, Dad never forgot a wedding anniversary.

Usually not one for big social events, Dad was pleased to attend Mum’s
80th birthday party. He told us of the joy he felt because the occasion gave Mum so much pleasure.

EDWINA
Dad was a committed parent who took an active role as our father. He showed his love for us through deeds rather than words.

EDWINA The cake competition for the annual Pet Show at my school, PLC Croydon, comes to mind. Somehow I got involved in the cake competition planning one year. I suggested a “father’s cake category” which was adopted by the planning committee. So I went home and announced “Dad you’ve got to make a cake for the Pet Show”.

Dad dutifully agreed even though he had never made a cake in his life. He decided he would make a sponge cake ... not really a cake for novices. Anyhow Dad followed the recipe and successfully made a quite a good, little sponge. I was very grateful that Dad supported me and was such a good sport.

BRYAN
Through his example, Dad taught us to appreciate the simpler things in life.
In a complex world, Dad found much contentment observing the moods and activities of Gunnamatta Bay, a walk or swim. He loved feeding the native birds from his hand and calling the magpies.

He tended his garden and enjoyed reading in the sun. But most of all he relished time with his family. He had an aura of a man at peace with himself - although he would never express his emotions in this sort of way.

Overall, we pay tribute to our Dad for his thoughtful and kind nature.
We acknowledge Dad’s life of care and service to his patients, country, family and friends.

For our Dad, actions have always spoken louder than words. In his quiet and gentle way, Bruce has touched all our lives.

Good bye Dad. You will always be in our hearts.