Arthur Colvin
Encyclopedia
The Honourable
Colonel
Arthur Edmund Colvin CBE
MC
MLC
(24 April 1884 - 20 August 1966) was a member of New South Wales Legislative Council
and a soldier, surgeon and physician.
and was the son of the Rev. Edmund Alexander Colvin and Gertrude Elizabeth Reynolds née Huntley. He was educated at Auburn public school, Newington College
(1897-1898), The King's School
(1898-1902) and the University of Sydney
. He graduated as a Bachelor of Medicine and Chemistry
in 1908.
and as a pathologist in the following year. He then went into general practice in Orange, New South Wales
later specialising in ophthalmic surgery
. Colvin was honorary surgeon to HRH Prince Albert, Duke of York
, during his in 1927 Australian tour and to HRH Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester
, on his 1934 tour. He was secretary of NSW Western Division
of British Medical Association
. From 1929 he was a member of the NSW Hospital Commission and served as its vice chairman in 1934. In 1937 he was appointed to the Medical Board of New South Wales and from 1944 until 1966 he served on the board of Sydney Hospital.
Colvin served with the field ambulance unit and on administrative staff of the Australian Army Medical Corps of the Australian Imperial Force
in Egypt
, the United Kingdom
, and France
. He rose to the rank of major
and was awarded the Military Cross
and mentioned in despatches. During World War II
he was assistant director general of Army Medical Services and an adviser on medical and hospital matters to the director general of Manpower and was promoted to colonel
.
from 1921 until 1941 and was mayor
from 1923 until 1930 and again in 1935.
, Colvin served from 1932 until 1934 as a life appointment under the Constitution Act and the writ of summons of 7 September 1932. He became an indirectly elected member of the Council in April 1934 and served for 21 years. On retirement he was granted the retention of the title of The Honourable
for life.
and The Spastic Centre
. He was a member of the Orange Agricultural and Pastoral Society and a councillor of Fairbridge Farm Schools.
The Honourable
The prefix The Honourable or The Honorable is a style used before the names of certain classes of persons. It is considered an honorific styling.-International diplomacy:...
Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
Arthur Edmund Colvin CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
MC
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
MLC
New South Wales Legislative Council
The New South Wales Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the parliament of New South Wales in Australia. The other is the Legislative Assembly. Both sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney. The Assembly is referred to as the lower house and the Council as...
(24 April 1884 - 20 August 1966) was a member of New South Wales Legislative Council
New South Wales Legislative Council
The New South Wales Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the parliament of New South Wales in Australia. The other is the Legislative Assembly. Both sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney. The Assembly is referred to as the lower house and the Council as...
and a soldier, surgeon and physician.
Early life
Colvin was born in Jamberoo, New South WalesJamberoo, New South Wales
Jamberoo is a small picturesque village approx 11 km inland from Kiama on the South Coast of New South Wales, Australia in the Municipality of Kiama. At the 2006 census, Jamberoo had a population of 935 people...
and was the son of the Rev. Edmund Alexander Colvin and Gertrude Elizabeth Reynolds née Huntley. He was educated at Auburn public school, Newington College
Newington College
Newington College is an independent, Uniting Church, day and boarding school for boys, located in Stanmore, an inner-western suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
(1897-1898), The King's School
The King's School, Sydney
The King's School is an independent Anglican, day and boarding school for boys in North Parramatta in the western suburbs of Sydney, Australia. Founded in 1831, it is Australia's oldest school and forms one of the nine "Great Public Schools" of New South Wales. Situated within a site, Gowan Brae,...
(1898-1902) and the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
. He graduated as a Bachelor of Medicine and Chemistry
Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery
Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, or in Latin Medicinae Baccalaureus, Baccalaureus Chirurgiae , are the two first professional degrees awarded upon graduation from medical school in medicine and surgery by universities in various countries...
in 1908.
Medical career
Following graduation, Colvin was appointed as a resident medical officer at Sydney HospitalSydney Hospital
Sydney Hospital is a major hospital in Sydney, Australia, located on Macquarie Street in the Sydney central business district. It is the oldest hospital in Australia, dating back to 1788, and has been at its current location since 1811. It first received the name Sydney Hospital in 1881.Currently...
and as a pathologist in the following year. He then went into general practice in Orange, New South Wales
Orange, New South Wales
Orange is a city in the Central West region of New South Wales, Australia. It is west of the state capital, Sydney, at an altitude of . Orange has an estimated population of 39,329 and the city is a major provincial centre....
later specialising in ophthalmic surgery
Ophthalmic artery
The ophthalmic artery is the first branch of the internal carotid artery distal to the cavernous sinus. Branches of the OA supply all the structures in the orbit as well as some structures in the nose, face and meninges...
. Colvin was honorary surgeon to HRH Prince Albert, Duke of York
George VI of the United Kingdom
George VI was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death...
, during his in 1927 Australian tour and to HRH Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester
Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester
The Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester was a soldier and member of the British Royal Family, the third son of George V of the United Kingdom and Queen Mary....
, on his 1934 tour. He was secretary of NSW Western Division
Australian Medical Association
The Australian Medical Association is a professional association for Australian doctors and medical students.The AMA uses a representative structure involving state branches and committees to work with members to promote and protect the interests of doctors.The mechanisms that allow this include:*...
of British Medical Association
British Medical Association
The British Medical Association is the professional association and registered trade union for doctors in the United Kingdom. The association does not regulate or certify doctors, a responsibility which lies with the General Medical Council. The association’s headquarters are located in BMA House,...
. From 1929 he was a member of the NSW Hospital Commission and served as its vice chairman in 1934. In 1937 he was appointed to the Medical Board of New South Wales and from 1944 until 1966 he served on the board of Sydney Hospital.
Military service
During World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
Colvin served with the field ambulance unit and on administrative staff of the Australian Army Medical Corps of the Australian Imperial Force
Australian Imperial Force
The Australian Imperial Force was the name given to all-volunteer Australian Army forces dispatched to fight overseas during World War I and World War II.* First Australian Imperial Force * Second Australian Imperial Force...
in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, and France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. He rose to the rank of major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
and was awarded the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
and mentioned in despatches. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he was assistant director general of Army Medical Services and an adviser on medical and hospital matters to the director general of Manpower and was promoted to colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
.
Local Government service
Colvin served as an alderman on Orange City CouncilOrange, New South Wales
Orange is a city in the Central West region of New South Wales, Australia. It is west of the state capital, Sydney, at an altitude of . Orange has an estimated population of 39,329 and the city is a major provincial centre....
from 1921 until 1941 and was mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
from 1923 until 1930 and again in 1935.
Parliamentary service
As a member of the New South Wales Legislative CouncilNew South Wales Legislative Council
The New South Wales Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the parliament of New South Wales in Australia. The other is the Legislative Assembly. Both sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney. The Assembly is referred to as the lower house and the Council as...
, Colvin served from 1932 until 1934 as a life appointment under the Constitution Act and the writ of summons of 7 September 1932. He became an indirectly elected member of the Council in April 1934 and served for 21 years. On retirement he was granted the retention of the title of The Honourable
The Honourable
The prefix The Honourable or The Honorable is a style used before the names of certain classes of persons. It is considered an honorific styling.-International diplomacy:...
for life.
Community involvement
Colvin served on the boards of the Far West Children's Health Scheme, Legacy AustraliaLegacy Australia
Legacy is an Australian organisation, established in 1923 by ex-servicemen. The organisation has the aim of caring for the dependents of deceased Australian service men and women. The dependants of World War I, World War II, the Korean War, Malayan emergency and Vietnam War deceased are cared for...
and The Spastic Centre
The Spastic Centre
The Spastic Centre of New South Wales, Australia has changed its name to Cerebral Palsy Alliance on February 8th 2011.Cerebral Palsy Alliance was founded on 9 December 1944 and commenced operations 30 January 1945. It was founded by a concerned group of 25 parents of children with cerebral palsy...
. He was a member of the Orange Agricultural and Pastoral Society and a councillor of Fairbridge Farm Schools.
Honours
- Commander of the Order of the British EmpireOrder of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
- 1935, for service as chairman of the Hospital Commission of NSW.