John Rasmussen:[8] I’m a prosthodontist, still working at the Dental Hospital[9] three days a week. I’ve had a long association one way and another with teaching undergraduates and doing various other things.

John Hales:[10] I graduated in 1956, a vintage year in Melbourne. I finished my finals, and I went off to the Olympic Games. I then worked in practices in Footscray and Moorabbin and had my own practice in North Brighton for some 36 years. I retired 10 years ago, having enjoyed my life as a dentist.

John Rogers:[11] I graduated in dentistry from Adelaide University in the 1970s. My association with Melbourne University dates from the early 1990s when I joined the Victorian Department of Human Services. I’ve been a Principal Dental Advisor to the Department since then.

Hector Orams:[12] I graduated in dentistry in 1946 from Melbourne University and pursued some postgraduate studies after that. I was in general practice until 1964 and, in 1965, I joined the staff of the Dental School, retiring at the end of 1988 as Reader in Dental Medicine and Surgery, as it was then called.

Figure 1 Dr Hec Orams, 1987 by Chris Owen - courtesy H.F. Atkinson Dental Museum.

I came into dentistry largely at the end of the “blood and vulcanite” era. At the time when I first went into practice, people didn’t value their teeth very much at all and they were mainly interested in having them extracted and dentures made. And of course dentures received a high fee and fillings got a very low fee, so there was no economic incentive for practitioners to do any conservative work.

The School was emphasising conservation at that time and it was also promoting the early stages of prevention. After retirement I did some honorary research work for a while and I suppose I’m now a man of leisure. I’ve enjoyed my period of time in dentistry very much.

Maurice White:[13] I graduated around 1960. I’m now retired but have been developing a dental health education program with Rotary, and attempting to make it a national program. I’ve done some research on how food gets trapped between teeth and inside the pits and fissures just about every time we eat, and what happens to that food.

John Harcourt:[14] I graduated in 1953 and was employed at the Dental School from 1954 until I officially retired in 1996. I still do a little teaching.

Figure 2 Dr John Harcourt, c.1990 by Chris Owen - courtesy H.F. Atkinson Dental Museum.

I was largely involved in dental materials, oral histology and prosthodontics, and have been involved in the Australian Dental Association (Victorian branch), the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons, the Dental Board of Victoria and the Australian Dental Journal.

Witness to the History of Australian Medicine