125 stories for 125 years

RSL Chemists group

On 14 October 1946, Peter Wright, a first-year student, called a meeting of students. Fifteen students signed a formal ‘application for [a] Charter to form a Sub-branch of the Returned Soldiers’, Sailors’ and Airmen’s Imperial League of Australia’ (now the Returned and Services League). A meeting of 33 pharmacists chaired by F.C. Kent on 2 September 1946 had pledged support for the formation of the sub-branch. The charter was granted and the inaugural meeting was held on 22 November 1946. Major-General Colin Simpson was elected president and the very active committee organised regular meetings and gave much assistance and advice to students, other ex-service pharmacists and their dependents.

In 1947, following discussions with the committee of the Chemists Sub-branch, the council approved the proposal that the college’s new building would be dedicated as a memorial to members of the society and apprentices who died in both wars. A trust deed was drawn up and the sum of £50,000 was nominated as the objective. The building was to be named ‘The Victorian College of Pharmacy War Memorial Building’ with prominent lettering on the front of the building and a suitable tablet as a dedication as a public war memorial. It was also decided to move the World War I honour boards from the museum to a place in a prominent position in the entrance hall and to prepare a similar board for those who served in World War II. Today, a book of remembrance in the foyer records the students and graduates of the college who served in both world wars.

In 1947 the inaugural address was given by the Lieutenant-Governor, Lieutenant-General Sir Edmund Herring, who emphasised the value of comradeship to the college and to their profession. The Premier of Victoria, Tom Hollway, was the speaker for the 1948 address and at this event the honour board for World War II was unveiled by Major-General Simpson. While about 150 pharmacists enlisted in World War I and 19 had died, there were 270 names on the new board and, of these, 26 had made the supreme sacrifice.

The toll was heaviest among those whose had joined the Royal Australian Air Force with 18 of the 78 losing their lives. It was noted that pharmacists had been given extra duties and taken on greater responsibilities than in the earlier war. The performance of pharmacists in their professional capacity and in the services during this war ‘had lifted the status of pharmacy with the outside world very greatly’. The board was unveiled and those present stood in silence in remembrance of the fallen.

By 1948 the club had more than 120 members, but by the end of 1950 the majority of the students had graduated and many joined their local sub-branch. It was decided to maintain the Chemists Sub-branch, but discontinue regular monthly meetings in favour of two official meetings per year — an Anzac meeting in April and a Christmas meeting in December. Members also conducted a wreath laying ceremony at the college on 11 November each year. Socially, there were many memorable and convivial events including socials, ladies’ nights and family picnics and, in the 1980s, weekends away to renew friendships in country Victoria. The group has donated funds to the college over the years and continues to meet in 2006. The current president of the Chemists RSL Sub-branch is Allan Beavis, of Geelong.