Life's Twists and Turns

Life is full of strange twists and turns. This one started the day I was born. My birth was the talking point of Maclean hospital. But it was not about me, it was about Dr Hammond, the man who brought me safely into the world. I was a caesarean delivery and Dr Hammond pioneered a procedure in Maclean that left Mum with a wound that was significantly smaller and neater than any seen before in the hospital. Every nurse in the place lined up to see first-hand the evidence of this doctor's wonderful work.

Years later I spent a total of five years at RAAF Base Butterworth which is located in what was then called Province Wellesley of Penang State in West Malaysia. In 1996 I moved to Sydney and it was here I met Dr John Hammond, now retired. John is a highly regarded educator within the South Pacific Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and, I have no doubt, beyond. John is the nephew of the Dr Hammond that delivered me and the founding principal of what is now the Central Coast Adventist School in which my youngest daughter did her last three years of high school.

In the 1950s John spent part of his childhood in Penang where his father was on staff at the Penang Adventist Hospital. When the RAAF assumed responsibility for the air base at Butterworth John's father was appointed honorary surgeon to the RAAF. John told me recently that the British in Penang at the time were most concerned that these colonials would lower the tone of the place.

In another twist, I married a Kiwi. My wife's sister is married to a Pom. Phil's father was a RAF fireman who spent time on an unaccompanied posting to Butterworth. In the words of the children's song, 'It’s a small world after all'.